“She handled herself really well,” Ben said, daring the other man to disagree. Any reason to land a punch at this point worked for Ben.
“I’m thinking she’s had some experience.”
Yeah, this guy just didn’t take a hint. Ben decided to make his position a bit more clear. “You have a point, Willoughby? If so, feel free to make it to me.”
“I’m talking to the lady.”
Ben took a step forward and Jocelyn pulled him back. “It’s okay, Ben. Detective Willoughby is doing his job and his tactics don’t scare me.”
Since she slipped her hand in his, Ben guessed whatever was jumping around inside her didn’t match the cool detachment of her words. Ben gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze. “It’s actually not okay.”
The detective ignored everything except what he wanted to say. He pointed from Ben to Jocelyn. “I’m going to need a list of where you plan to go the next few days.”
“Why?” she asked.
“So I can have an ambulance ready.”
Connor picked that moment to step in. There was another man with him. “Detective.”
“Connor Bowen.”
“Are we only using full names now?” Joel asked as he joined the group.
Connor pointed to the other man. “This is Kent Beane, the bank president.”
To Ben’s mind the guy looked ready to throw up. Sweat dripped off his forehead and he kept folding a handkerchief and wiping his brow. Beane acted as if someone had stolen his personal bank account and his house along with it.
Of course, since no one had tried to steal anything, the guy had bigger problems. Someone had used his office as a staging ground to grab Jocelyn. That put him on Ben’s list.
Willoughby ignored the introductions. “I got a call from my boss about you.”
Connor smiled. “Tell Anne I said hello.”
“I’m not sure who you think you are or why you’re protecting Ms. Raine—”
“Are you in trouble, Ms. Raine?” Kent asked.
“But it ends here.”
That qualified as one threat too many. Ben heard it, let it wind through him and feed the anger festering inside him. “Is that what your boss said you were supposed to do? Threaten women for no reason?”
The detective turned on him. “I’m betting the media would love to know what you’re doing now.”
Jocelyn let out a grumbling noise and shook off Ben’s hand. “How dare you?”
Whoa. Ben grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled her back before she tackled the guy. Leaving his hand resting there, he massaged her lower back, letting her know he appreciated the support.
Not many people stepped up for him. Knowing she would meant something. Meant a lot. But he didn’t want her to make herself any more of a target.
He could handle the detective. “Is that supposed to be a threat, Detective? If so, you need to do better.”
Willoughby shifted his attention back to Jocelyn. “You have one day to come clean. You tell me who you are and what’s going on and your boyfriend stays off the front page.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Jocelyn asked it but Ben figured they were all thinking it.
“Well, now.” Joel made a humming sound. “We’ve been throwing words around, but that statement is definitely a threat.”
“And you’re a bit late to throw out one about my life. I can’t imagine what hasn’t been printed about me.” There was a strange freedom in knowing there was nothing left for people to say about him. Ben didn’t find a lot of comfort in the thought but he did see himself as slander-proof.
“I’ll take that as a challenge.”
The detective stormed off before anyone could respond or Ben could shove the guy through the wall the way he wanted to do.
“Who was that again?” Kent asked.
“He’s a jack—”
“Okay.” Connor shut down Ben’s honest response. “That’s enough.”
“Nice work today.” Ben didn’t know if it was true or not. He didn’t remember seeing the manager anywhere during the attack. Joel’s video would tell them, but Ben had the clear sense this guy had ducked the tragedy.
Kent shook his head. He kept alternating between swiping his brow and swallowing. “I missed it, I’m afraid.”
At least he didn’t try to lie. Ben didn’t really count that in the guy’s favor, but it was something. Now if he’d just stop leaking sweat. “You weren’t in the room?”
“Stepped out for coffee. Dropped it all over the street when I saw the police cars.”
Ben thought he saw some of it splashed down the front of the guy, as well.