History Main / SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee

* On ''Series/DrQuinnMedicineWoman'', there are several instances where the titular character begs Horace, the local [[WesternUnionMan telegraph operator]], to reveal the contents of telegrams that he has sent or received (usually because of her efforts to help someone who might be the topic of one of the those messages). He refuses, as he's taken an oath to ensure people's privacy. But in one instant, he hands her the notepad that the message was written on (he's destroyed the paper, but the imprint of the message is still there), and in another he declares his intent to go for a walk, leaving Dr. Quinn alone in the office and thus able to snoop until she gets the info that she needs.

* On ''Series/DrQuinnMedicineWoman'', there are several instances where the titular character begs Horace, the local telegraph operator, to reveal the contents of telegrams that he has sent or received (usually because of her efforts to help someone who might be the topic of one of the those messages). He refuses, as he's taken an oath to ensure people's privacy. But in one instant, he hands her the notepad that the message was written on (he's destroyed the paper, but the imprint of the message is still there), and in another he declares his intent to go for a walk, leaving Dr. Quinn alone in the office and thus able to snoop until she gets the info that she needs.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': In ''Proven Guilty'', Harry needs to illegally pick a lock, so tells Murphy (a police detective) to "look at that zeppelin" while he does so. She concedes to necessity and turns her back, but isn't happy about it.

* ''Literature/TheScienceOfDiscworld'': In the second book, the Librarian cannot help the wizards due to the complicated rules regarding L-Space. So he leaves a pile of books, and tells Ponder Stibbons he's just going out for a jiff, during which he ''expects'' the wizards to not read those books, and if they hear him coughing just before he comes back, it's because he has a cough, and is not a warning about his return.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Dr. Kureha insists that her patients only leave her care in two cases: when they die or when they make a full recovery. When talking to a pair of patients that haven't fully healed yet but have just done her a big favor, she spells out that she isn't going to let them leave--but she ''is'' going to leave the door unlocked while she is busy doing something that will occupy her attention.

* In the [[ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Ultimate universe's]] adaptation of the [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan Clone Saga]], Peter and Jessica Drew (his OppositeSexClone) find themselves trapped in a warehouse, with Nick Fury and a bunch of SHIELD soldiers there to arrest them. Before that can happen, Doctor Octopus comes waltzing in and smugly informs them all that he got off scot-free from all of the crimes he did ''and'' was able to more or less pervert Peter's life and all he stood for, by being signed on to run the CIA's cloning program and making a bunch of Spider-Man clone soldiers. Because of his protection with the CIA, Fury can't touch him. So Fury orders all of his soldiers to take a five minute coffee break, leaving no one to stop Peter and Jessica from beating the shit out of Doc Ock. Bonus points for Peter actually ''asking'' for Fury to invoke this trope, just so he can have a chance to beat Doc Ock up before being arrested.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': During the first, extended Hobgoblin story arc, Spidey wants police information on crook Lefty Donovan, whom he suspects is the Hobgoblin (actually, he's Hobgoblin's [[TheDragon Dragon]]). He goes to speak to Detective Lou Snider and asks to see Donovan's criminal history. Snider tells him that's information only for cops, as he places the information on his desk, and then steps out of the room, saying he had something in his eye.
* A combination of this and CouldSayItBut shows up in one issue of ''Series/TheXFiles'' comic. Scully is doing an autopsy on a person who died under seemingly miraculous circumstances. A woman and a crippled child come in to see the body of the "saint."

* In one issue of ''Comicbook/JusticeLeague Quarterly'', the manager of the [[PunchClockHero corporate superteam]] Conglomorate tells the heroes that their sponsors won't let them fight an actual supervillain, because of the risk. However, if she went for coffee and when she came back they were gone, well, there's not much she could do about ''that.''

* ''FanFic/RWBYReckoning'': As Darrel's just been busted impersonating a student assisting in a police investigation regarding [[SacrificialLamb Tukson's]] murder, the inspector in charge says that Darrel needs to be arrested for impersonating a junior officer of the law, and for disturbing a crime scene. However, the mountain of evidence incriminating the White Fang takes priority, he needs to take it and make sure it's secure. As he's leaving, he asks Darrel not to run. [[CouldSayItBut He]] ''[[CouldSayItBut really]]'' [[CouldSayItBut hates that.]]

* In ''[[http://jeconais.fanficauthors.net/This_Means_War/8__Manic_Monday/ This Means War]]'' the director of Gringotts is called away from a meeting with Harry, "accidentally" leaving information on Minister Fudge's financial dealings in plain sight on his desk.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6611208/9/Trust-Is-A-Relative-Thing Trust Is a Relative Thing]]'' Harry tries to order books on occlumency and related subjects during his first year. On Halloween he receives a parcel with an accompanying letter.
-->Those books on your list are restricted for sale by the ministry. But oddly enough I was buying some books from an estate sale of a retired auror and I found a stack containing those books and a couple others. Tucked inside one of those books was a letter stating he wished for those books to be bequeathed to you, but apparently he misplaced the letter to his solicitors to that effect. Who am I to get in the way of a wizard's last wishes. Since I in good faith paid his estate five galleons for the books I have billed your Gringotts account for the same.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10844958/1/Stopped-in-Time Stopped in Time]]'' the Ministry of Magic institutes a marriage law pairing light wizards and witches with dark ones.
-->'''Harry:''' Do you have a list of all persons being affected by this?\\
'''Minister Shacklebolt:''' I do. I can't let you have it, but if a copy was to be made of this list there would be nothing I could do if I didn't know it.\\
[Shacklebolt leaves said list on the table and turns his back]
* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/2549801/chapters/24092103 The Stark Truth]]'' Harry, Fred and George are kidnapped from Avengers Tower by Snape and Dumbledore and end up in the Hogwarts hospital wing. Once Harry wakes up they decide to leave.
-->'''Madame Pomfrey:''' The Headmaster ordered me to keep you here and in bed, but I all of a sudden have the need to use the bathroom. Excuse me, gentlemen.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11821585/8/If-I-Knew-the-Consequences-I-Wouldn-t-Have-Done-it If I Knew the Consequences I Wouldn't Have Done It]]'' aurors arrive to search Malfoy Manor and the elf who lets them in is not exactly loyal.
-->'''Cobby:''' Cobby must not tell master's secrets, Cobby must keep aurors from looking at dining room floor. Cobby is a good elf and keeps master's secrets.
* ''Fanfic/MissingSherlockHolmes'': Holmes uses his network of informants to figure out the identity of a dead man presumably related to Watson's disappearance and runs off before the police can obtain a search warrant. When one of the young Yarders protests, Lestrade tells him that looking the other way with Holmes occasionally is part of the job and purposely avoids either of them finding out what Holmes disappeared to do. He even says that if Holmes isn't "done" by the time they catch up, he'll duck into the nearest pub for a pint to give him more time.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13256217/8/Crafting-Magic Crafting Magic]]'' Madame Bones asks a Saint Mungo's Healer if it's true that they and a cursebreaker removed Harry's scar. The Healer states that she can't violate patient confidentiality while tugging on her hair and pointing at a potted plant.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4742885/1/A-Christmas-Guardian-II A Christmas Guardian II]]'' Snape asks Madame Pomfrey about Harry's medical history.
-->'''Madame Pomfrey:''' I've just remembered I need to check in on Miss Brockelhurst – you may find some interesting reading on my desk.
* ''Fanfic/NewBloodArtemisgirl'': Snape is curiously absent at cleanup time the day he teaches the contraceptive potion, conveniently allowing all the girls in the class to "steal" a stash of it for themselves. Hermione's suspicions are solidified when the handful of students whose potions weren't brewed correctly are assigned a detention to try again until they get it right; normally that's just a fail, but it seems Snape wants to be sure ''every'' girl gets a chance to "steal" the potion.
* ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'': Madam Pomfrey does not approve of the Triwizard champions being given [[spoiler:a Draught of Delirium]], and suggests purging it early. Fleur is confused and asks if that isn't against the rules.
--> The Mediwitch raised her eyebrows and looked pointedly around the tent. She conjured a bucket and set it on the floor beside the girl before moving to the entrance to 'check the weather.'

--> '''Ron''': If Ginny knew occlumency, she might be alive right now.\\
'''Percy''': Fine. I actually do have a book on it already in my trunk. But I cannot legally lend it to you.\\
'''Ron''': But Percy!\\
'''Percy''': Ron. I cannot legally lend it to you. From my trunk.\\
'''Ron''': Right. I understand.\\
'''Percy''': Good. Now, I have a Prefect's meeting in twenty minutes. I imagine I'll be pretty busy this week -- too busy to work on an extra side project -- until, oh, next Tuesday.

\\

* This was done in the 1987 ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'' movie. Joe Friday goes to get coffee so that Pep can use TortureForFunAndInformation on a captured mook. This works at first, but when the perp tries to clam up again, Pep comments that "some donuts would go real nice with this coffee".
-->'''Pep:''' Well... Emil... I guess it's just you and me and... '''''[[GroinAttack your balls]]'''''... and this drawer.

''Gordon leaves. After a moment, the lights turn on, and Batman is revealed to have been behind the Joker the whole time. He immediately slams the Joker's head into the table.''
* A variant at the end of ''Film/TheJackal''. Declan, the IRA terrorist helping to find The Jackal, doesn't get his early release in exchange for helping take him down and stop him from assassinating [[spoiler:the First Lady of the United States]] (note that Declan agreed to help the FBI just on the chance of early release after initially trying to bargain for a certainty). His handler Preston is personally against the decision, though he notes that Declan will get transferred to a minimum-security prison. In the movie's final scene [[spoiler: the two of them stop at a coffee bar and Preston says that he'll go in to get a cup of coffee, and that he'll be back in...30 minutes. Declan understands that that's his cue to just walk away a free man once Preston goes inside.]]
* In ''Film/{{Thor}}'', [[spoiler:Heimdall]] does this at the Bifrost Bridge to allow [[spoiler:the Warriors Three and Lady Sif to travel to Earth without him having disobey Odin's orders]]. After confirming with them what they plan to do, he loudly announces that he is bound by honor to the king and cannot open the bridge for them... and then walks away, leaving the proverbial keys in the ignition.
-->'''Fandral:''' Complicated fellow, isn't he?

-->'''Paladin:''' My, what fine yet rustic architecture.

* In the ''Literature/MercyThompson'' series Blood Bound, Tony tells another cop to do this when Tony realizes who is involved with the situation.

* In ''[[Literature/HoratioHornblower Hornblower and the Hotspur]]'', Hornblower's [[HypercompetentSidekick new steward,]] Doughty, is due to hang because he struck an officer in a rare fit of anger. Hornblower ends up [[ChessMaster arranging a series of seeming coincidences]] such that Doughty is unrestrained, unguarded, and most of the crew's attention is directed forward when Hornblower leaves him alone in his cabin at the stern of the ship with the window open, and an American ship, the USS ''Constitution'', a short distance away. When Bush finds him gone and tries to report it, Hornblower stalls him with other matters until there's no possibility of doing anything to retrieve him. (Incidentally, the real ''Constitution'' really was at Cadiz during that week, and took on new crew during that time, in an impressive display of ShownTheirWork.)
* In ''[[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Proven Guilty,]]'' Harry needs to illegally pick a lock, so tells Murphy (a police detective) to "look at that zeppelin" while he does so. She concedes to necessity and turns her back, but isn't happy about it.

* A sad variation occurs in the ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'' novel ''The unpleasantness at the Bellona club''. When Lord Peter has unmasked the murderer, their mutual friend Colonel Marchbanks tells them that he will now [[LeaveBehindAPistol put his loaded pistol in this unlocked drawer]], in preparation for a hunting trip tomorrow. The murderer takes the hint, and commits suicide as soon as Wimsey and Marchbanks have left the room.
* ''Literature/LostLight'': FBI agent Roy Lindell is not allowed to share the Martha Gessler missing person file with private detective Literature/HarryBosch. So Lindell makes a big show out of leaving the file on his desk while going outside to grab a smoke, so Bosch can look at it. The reason Lindell does this is that Marty Gessler was his girlfriend and he wants Harry to solve the case.
** Bosch tries to set up the same trick later with the insurance investigator who was trying to track down the stolen money, but [[ItOnlyWorksOnce his secretary comes in and finds Bosch reading the file]], so the investigator has to make a show of throwing Bosch out of the office.
* ''Literature/TheExecutioner''. In ''Chicago Wipeout'', Mack Bolan goes to an anti-corruption lawyer who's been crippled and ostracized for his efforts, and asks for the names behind the Chicago Mafia. Aware that he would be naming these people for a VigilanteExecution, the lawyer can't do it, as he's served the law all his life. Bolan respects his choice and goes to leave, but then the lawyer starts going on about how he wishes someone would just steal his file with all the information he's compiled, as he's sent it to every crime commission in the country to no effect...
* ''Literature/TheScienceOfDiscworld:'' In the second book, the Librarian cannot help the wizards due to the complicated rules regarding L-Space. So he leaves a pile of books, and tells Ponder Stibbons he's just going out for a jiff, during which he ''expects'' the wizards to not read those books, and if they hear him coughing just before he comes back, it's because he has a cough, and is not a warning about his return.

* ''Literature/TheLadyFromZagreb'': Minoux is incarcerated in a prison where Literature/BernieGunther's old friend Ernst Kracauer is deputy governor. Kracauer tells Bernie that he can offer no help, then says he has to go to the bathroom and suggests Bernie have another glass of brandy--from the bottle that is sitting on the desk next to Minoux's open file.
* In ''[[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Death Warmed Over]]'', Dan and Sheyenne plan a break-in to acquire dirt on Harvey Jekyll in a divorce case. Robin opts to spend the whole evening in her office to prepare a brief, "unaware" of what her co-workers are up to... although she ''does'' warn them not to get themselves shot at.

* There was an episode of ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' wherein [[spoiler: Reese ran away from home and joined the army with the help of a fake ID]]. When Lois goes to fix the problem [[spoiler: ( i.e. forcibly bring him back)]] the army refuses to release information on his whereabouts. Fortunately, Lois and his drill sergeant bond over their [[DrillSergeantNasty similar personalities]], causing him to offer this gem:
-->'''[[spoiler:Drill Sergeant]]''': "I really do wish I could help you. I wish I could just open this drawer up ''[opens drawer]'' and show you the information you need. But I can't. ''[gets up to go to the window]'' It's got me so frustrated that I just want to stare intently out this window for, oh, say, a hundred and twenty seconds."
* ''Series/MonarchLegacyOfMonsters'' "[[Recap/MonarchLegacyOfMonstersS1E3SecretsAndLies Secrets and Lies]]": After the [[NukeEm results]] that came of telling [[GeneralRipper General Puckett]] about Godzilla in 1954, which Bill and Keiko found [[ScientistVsSoldier less-than-desirable]], the Monarch trio's token military member Lee Shaw agrees to "trust" that the fledgling Monarch will tell him anything that Bill and Keiko feel his military superiors ''need'' to know, in regards to any information about future Titan discoveries that he'll be bound to pass on to his superiors in the military. That way, Lee can't be court-martialed for lying if the truth ever gets out.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}''. When Franks located the location of the killer of Gibbs's family before he was working with him, he stated that he certainly couldn't tell Gibbs this, before leaving the folder on his desk and heading to the bathroom. Sure enough the killer was mysteriously already killed by a sniper round when the FBI tried to arrest him.

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Titus}}'', after finding out [[spoiler: Amy was raped as a little girl by a family friend]] and confronting the perp in the bathroom, the school principal (who'd heard the whole thing) says he'll call security... and that it'll take him about 5 minutes or maybe 30... in the end he tells Titus and his family to let him know when he's done calling them.

* [[spoiler: [[BigBad Escaton]]]] of ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic VIII'' does not want to do what he is doing, but his programming keeps him from stopping[[note]]As a failsafe, once he has begun the process to destroy a world - which he will only do if he deems it unable to resist the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Kreegans]] - he cannot stop. This time, he initiated the process, only for the native people to promptly show him that he had underestimated them, and that they actually could defeat the Kreegans.[[/note]]. His solution that we actually see is not quite this trope[[note]]he gives you riddles so that he can hint at what you need to do without actually outright telling you what to do, and then hands you plot-relevant magical keys with the excuse that he has so many of them, and knows you don't know what to do with them.[[/note]]. The version that the game tells us are told in taverns all over Jadame, on the other hand, has him put plot-relevant magical keys on the table in front of him, tell you that if they disappear while he isn't watching, "how will he know how they went missing?", and then turn around to study the wall.

* One side quest in ''Hero of the Kingdom'' involves discovering the identity of a corrupt soldier. The records keeper who possesses this information refuses to tell you outright, but "accidentally" drops his records book after you pay him a sufficient sum.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'', Captain Del Rio orders Commander Lasky to prevent the Master Chief from leaving the ''Infinity'' to pursue the Didact. Lasky informs the Chief of this and then mentions that, just in case the Chief had gone already, Lasky had ordered a Pelican readied to pursue him. A fully fueled, armed, and prepped for launch Pelican that was currently moving into launch position in the landing bay they're looking at. And then he strolls away.

* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilZero'', a version of this occurs in the ending. Rebecca Chambers, who for the whole game had been tasked with arresting Billy Coen, a murderer, takes his dog tags from around his neck and places them on her own, declaring that he had died in the chaos and become another zombie. Billy salutes her and manages to escape to parts unknown.

* In ''Series/NewTricks'', Sandra Pullman does this after a celebrity chef she believes (but cannot prove) murdered her husband pulls a HannibalLecture on her.
-->'''Pullman:''' While we can't prove anything, it's possible that someone carelessly left the file lying around in a public place, where a journalist could find it.\\
'''Journalist:''' ...and where would this place be?\\
'''Pullman:''' ''[places file on the table]'' How should I know?
* One episode of ''Series/LawAndOrder'' has a lawyer who has confidential attorney-client information which holds a clue to helping the detectives solve the murder. His client isn't a suspect or even related to the crime investigation at all - but the detectives need the information, so the lawyer conspicuously leaves them alone in the room for exactly five minutes (he even says how long he'll be out), and they read it. Not admissible in court, obviously, but it's just one tip-off in a long line of clues, so it doesn't become an issue.
* ''Series/TheOddCouple1970'': In "[[Recap/TheOddCouple1970S4E7ThatIsTheArmyMrsMadison That is the Army, Mrs. Madison]]", Felix reports Oscar destroying a telephone, getting his weekend pass cancelled right after he and Blanche got married. Guilt-stricken, he makes up for it by bringing Blanche to the base and purposely leaving a chastised Oscar "sitting alone in his bunk" when he knows Blanche is about to come in. He lampshades it, saying that he had to report the thing that got Oscar in trouble, but if he doesn't see this, he doesn't have to report it.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}''. When Franks located the location of the killer of Gibbs's family before he was working with him, he stated that he certainly couldn't tell Gibbs this, before leaving the folder on his desk and heading to the bathroom. Sure enough the killer was mysteriously already killed by a sniper round when the FBI tried to arrest him.
** Happens again when a lawyer Gibbs and Vance are talking to very conspicuously leaves them alone in her office when she's called away. Vance even lampshades the situation before they both starting searching for the information they need.
** Vance also pulls this one on the bad guys, leaving Alejandro Rivera in the room with a file and leaking the location of a safehouse where Gibbs is hiding. He promptly heads off to shoot it up, only to discover that he's actually killed his sister (and head of the drug cartel) instead.
* {{Deconstructed}} in an episode of ''Series/{{JAG}}'': An up-and-coming attorney, Lieutenant Singer, arranges for Mac to [[SchmuckBait find a file with information she wasn't authorized to see]] for a case she was working, which results in Mac getting thrown off the case (allowing Singer to take the lead on it).
* ''Series/HoratioHornblower'': Horatio allows his steward, under sentence of death for striking a superior officer, to escape by leaving him alone in his cabin, commenting "You're a useful man. You can cook... [[ChekhovsSkill and you can swim]]." Later when he is seen swimming to safety on a nearby American ship (which happens to be the USS ''[[MeaningfulName Liberty]]''), Horatio says something along the lines of "[[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy Oh, damn, I left the window open. Silly me.]]" He even ensures that his men won't fire at Doughty, warning them not to shoot in the direction of the neutral American ship he is swimming towards.
** The original book version goes into a fair bit of detail regarding how Hornblower arranges a complex series of coincidences to ensure Doughty was left alone and unguarded, in a room with an open window, with the attention of the watch crew focused elsewhere, less than 70 yards from the U.S.S. ''Constitution''. Hornblower was understandably very stressed about the possibility that Doughty would be spotted too soon, or that Bush would realise how Hornblower had arranged it all (and be duty-bound to report it).
* {{Discussed|Trope}} and {{Averted|Trope}} on ''Series/BabylonFive''. The security chief, Garibaldi, has been shot in the back by his second in command, who is later found out and arrested by the station personnel. The other security guards offer to [[PoliceBrutality "keep an eye" on the prisoner]] while TheCaptain "goes for a walk", an offer which Captain Sheridan declines.
* In the ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' episode "Courtship", a psychologist hands over his file on the detective's lead suspect (known only as "Client X" at this point) with a casual "I never gave you this", and then leaves his own office, allowing the detectives to read the file.
* A variation in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' occurs when Sisko has to warn Cardassia of an impending Klingon invasion without breaking the treaty with the Klingons. So he calls in Garak, a former Cardassian spy turned tailor in exile, to take his measurements while he just so ''happens'' to be discussing the Klingon force in detail with his senior staff.

* In ''Series/{{Elementary}}'', Sherlock and the police need a file, but the man who has it can't give it to them due to confidentiality. Sherlock takes the man aside, says he knows he's using meth, and if he hands over the file it will remain a secret. He even recommends a rehab center. The man puts the file on his desk, and goes to the bathroom.

* There was an episode of ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' wherein [[spoiler: Reese ran away from home and joined the army with the help of a fake ID]]. When Lois goes to fix the problem [[spoiler: ( i.e. forcibly bring him back)]] the army refuses to release information on his whereabouts. Fortunately, Lois and his drill sergeant bond over their [[DrillSergeantNasty similar personalities]], causing him to offer this gem:
-->'''[[spoiler:Drill Sergeant]]''': "I really do wish I could help you. I wish I could just open this drawer up ''[opens drawer]'' and show you the information you need. But I can't. ''[gets up to go to the window]'' It's got me so frustrated that I just want to stare intently out this window for, oh, say, a hundred and twenty seconds."
* In ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'', Ned and Moze decide to [[StartMyOwn run their own talent show]] because the school's talent show is restricted to "appropriate" talents like classical music or tap dancing. Ned then requests Prof. Monroe's help to use his classroom as a stage room. He responds that as a teacher he can't allow it... but as a "supporter of the arts", he could "accidentally" forget the keys in the classroom and then someone could use them "without his knowledge". Ned thanks him for it, but the professor still maintains the IWasNeverHere attitude.
* In an episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Sam and Jesse convince an employee that they can get him hired at a much nicer job, but on condition that he lets them have his employer's personnel files. He settles on this trope as a way to appease his conscience.
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Titus}}'', after finding out [[spoiler: Amy was raped as a little girl by a family friend]] and confronting the perp in the bathroom, the school principal (who'd heard the whole thing) says he'll call security... and that it'll take him about 5 minutes or maybe 30... in the end he tells Titus and his family to let him know when he's done calling them.
* A non-police example comes in the form of ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' in which, after he gets practically threatened by Mitsuzane into giving him a Sengoku Driver, Sid "leaves" one on his couch complete with a working Lock Seed, "trusting" that Mitsuzane would return them to him.
* A variant, without the "stepping out" part, is used in ''Series/{{Forever|2014}}'': When Henry Morgan and Detective Martinez determine that a man who poisoned a king-in-exile is an employee at a foreign embassy, ambassador informs the pair that he is unfortunately required by the rules to be an ObstructiveBureaucrat and thus he cannot reveal the identity of the employee in question. As the pair depart, the ambassador lets Detective Martinez know that she had left her newspaper behind, which just happened to be on top of a file containing the name and photograph of the employee being sought.

* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': In "New York's Finest," Karen Page drops by assistant district attorney Blake Tower's office to confront him with evidence that his boss, District Attorney Samantha Reyes, is crooked and will backstab him the moment trouble strikes her. Karen's visit is so that she can request his copy of the Punisher file. Tower acts unmoved, telling her in no uncertain terms that she is not welcome, she should never contact him again, and he's going downstairs to call security now--all while gathering up the files and handing them off to her. After he leaves the room, she pinches a couple more files off his desk as well.
* Done for doctor-patient privilege on ''Series/{{CSI}}'' when the team is hunting a serial killer who re-dresses his victims in the clothes of a cancer patient. Hairs on the clothes lead the team to a specific clinic, and a doctor who recognizes the clothing plays this trope straight, asking only that the patient file on his desk still be there when he returns from his coffee break.
* In ''Series/YesMinister'', Hacker and Sir Humphrey want to make sure their confidential memo about transport policy finds its way to the press. So Humphrey has lunch with a journalist, and 'accidentally' leaves a copy of the memo on the table. A later scene involves Hacker about to have a private meeting with another journalist with a copy of another file, with the clear implication that the same thing is about to happen.

* In the ''Series/Batman1966'' episode "Hizzoner the Penguin", the Penguin and Batman are running for mayor of Gotham City. At the end-of-episode cliffhanger, the Penguin makes a show of disapproving of his henchmen putting his opponent into a DeathTrap and announces that he'll have to report it to the police... but, alas, he doesn't have a dime on him so he'll just have to walk to police headquarters and report it when he eventually gets there.

* During the first, extended Hobgoblin storyarc in ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', Spidey wants police information on crook Lefty Donovan, whom he suspects is the Hobgoblin (actually, he's Hobgoblin's [[TheDragon Dragon]]). He goes to speak to Detective Lou Snider, and asks to see Donovan's criminal history. Snider tells him that's information only for cops, as he places the information on his desk, and then steps out of the room, saying he had something in his eye.

* In "WesternAnimation/SpidermanAndHisAmazingFirends'' Iceman has been captured and forced into an arranged marriage with an Ice giant princess who doesn't really want to do this. When Iceman suggests if he wasn't around she could just marry her childhood friend instead she says she couldn't let him but shows him an unguarded way that he could happen to sneak out through.

* In an episode of ''Series/LawAndOrderSVU'', a woman is raped, and Benson tries to talk her into undergoing a rape kit. But all she (the woman who was raped) wants to do is take a ShowerOfAngst. Benson collects the panties the woman was wearing when attacked off the floor while she does so. The panties have all the DNA evidence needed to convict the suspect, but since they were obtained illegally (Benson had neither a search warrant nor permission from the panties' owner), that evidence cannot be used. And Benson does get in trouble with Cragen...and Warner is pissed at her too, for dragging ''her'' into that mess.

* Although people do ''do'' this, it's probably redundant, since most organisations' official confidentiality policies make no distinction between "just happening to leave important information unattended in public view" and deliberately showing it to someone. The former is treated as being as bad as the latter, both to deter people from falling into lazy habits and [[DefiedTrope to nullify precisely this excuse]]. (Leaving the information locked away and secretly informing someone how to break in and steal it is probably a better way to cover your ass. [[AndThatWouldBeWrong But don't do that either.]])

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