Joel joined Connor in smiling. “I’m thinking we’re growing on Jocelyn here. She’s started to get used to having us around.”
“I think you’re basically comparing us to mold,” Connor pointed out.
She stepped over the first attacker and headed for the back porch. Her footing faltered when she looked down, but she quickly recovered. “Call yourselves whatever you want, but I’m coming along.”
Ben knew she’d made up her mind. That meant he was stuck now.
Chapter Fourteen
They got to the bank across town in record time. Jocelyn stood in Kent’s private office with a wall of male protection around her. Safe and cocooned by Corcoran Team members with Ben at her back and Connor and Joel on either side. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Really off.
Kent sat in his big leather chair and twirled his cell phone around in his fingers. Between the fidgeting and the sweat staining the armpits of his dark blue shirt, she almost felt sorry for him. Or she would if it weren’t so obvious he was hiding something. Even Ed stood guard at his side, frowning down at him.
“Anything you want to say, Kent?” Connor asked for the second time, this version in a lower, huskier “I’m done with you” tone.
Jocelyn realized if he used that voice with her she might crawl under a desk. He sounded two seconds away from whipping that gun out and taking aim. Clearly the man did not like people storming his house.
Plastic thudded against the wooden desk as Kent dropped the phone, then slapped it flat against the top. “It is after hours. Why did you call me here?”
“Wrong question.” Ben shifted his weight until his legs were hip-width apart and he crossed his arms over his chest. “We should be asking why you were already at the bank at this hour and not home with your wife.”
“It is almost midnight,” Joel added.
“My life is not your business.” Kent slid the phone toward him under his palm.
Before the cell traveled one more inch, Ed reached over and snatched it. Jocelyn had been about to do the same thing and sent Ed a half smile in appreciation for stopping all the unnecessary banging.
Connor didn’t move. “Oh, I think it is.”
“Not to cause trouble, but what is going on here?” Ed asked. “It’s late and the bank’s business is done. Why not meet at Kent’s house or at the police station? I don’t understand.”
“Because they’re not police.” Kent reached for the phone. “Maybe we should call and double-check their authority.”
Connor shrugged. “Go ahead.”
When Kent hesitated and the phone stayed in the cradle, Jocelyn zeroed in on the subject that mattered most to her. “Call your wife while you’re at it. I’d love to meet her.”
“What?” Kent’s gaze flew to Jocelyn’s. “I barely know who you are.”
Maybe it was the tone or the way his gaze met hers then quickly skidded away. A bunch of tiny little clues that led to one very obvious conclusion—he knew exactly who she was and not just because she used this branch for her banking.
No, guilt vibrated off him. He had put her in danger or he had stood back and let it happen. She’d bet her life on it, and that was exactly what she’d been doing for days, whether she knew it or not.
“I think you do.” Jocelyn gained confidence the more the thought spun around in her mind. “You know who I am and why I’m in danger.”
Ben put a hand against the small of her back. “She’s the one your employee dragged into this mess. The one people keep trying to kidnap or kill.”
After a swallow big enough to see his throat move, Kent folded his hands together on the desk in front of him. Then unfolded them. Then they disappeared on his lap. “I understand the bank robbery was upsetting, but—”
“Enough.” Connor barked out the warning, and all motion and the small noises in the room stopped. Even the desk chair ceased creaking as Kent rocked.
“What?” he asked as he wiped away a new sheen of sweat on his forehead.
“Stop with whatever you’re hiding.” The words exploded out of Jocelyn. The frustration that had been building finally burst loose and she refused to hold off one more second from breaking into the interrogation. “Enough women are dead.”
Kent’s head wobbled as if he was about to go down. “What are you talking about?”
Ed stepped in closer, glancing from Kent to the rest of the room. “Wait, uh, who’s dead?”
“Okay, this isn’t getting us anywhere.” Connor pointed at the ceiling. “Where does the staircase up to the balcony eventually lead?”