After Hours by Dara Girard Page A

have an easier time finding someone who didn’t want to kill him.”
    Amera held up her hand and glared at Owen. “Shut up.”
    “Right. Sorry.” He made a motion of zipping his lip, but couldn’t keep his mouth closed long. “But this could work for you. As his wife you can stay by his side and look out for him, see if anything in his life or anyone is acting strange. He trusts you. There are no major deals coming up, so his schedule won’t be a problem. Maybe you can get him to stay hidden for a while and I'll take care of the rest.”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    Amera folded her arms. “I cannot pretend to be his wife.”
    “Do you know the power you now hold?”
    “Power?”
    “Yes. Curtis Bishop is a grade-A bastard with memory loss. What if there are things his executive assistant couldn’t get him to do that his wife can?”
    Amera bit her lip, tempted at the thought. Owen was right. Curtis wouldn’t remember his plan for closing the factory or refusing her proposal. Or even, that he had fired her. What if over the next several days she could change his mind and get what she wanted? The words Ready to live dangerously? popped in her mind. Was this how things were to go? She’d ruined her first pair of stockings, tearing them on the pavement and getting blood on them while helping Curtis, but she couldn’t believe her luck. This was her chance to make this beast human again, before it was too late. It would be a bold action, but she was ready to take the risk.
    “What if his memory comes back?”
    “The doctor believes the short term ones are gone for good. You could do a lot and get away with it, Ms. Thurston.”
    Amera folded her arms and stared down at the ground. He was going to get rid of her anyway and if she could do some good in the process, it would be worth it. With Owen’s help she could pull it off, at least for a few days or weeks, then pick a fight with him and ask for a divorce. She’d deal with the consequences when the time came, but for now a prime opportunity had fallen in her lap. She looked at Owen then wiggled her fingers, letting her ring sparkle. “Hello, Mrs. Bishop.”
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Nobody had come looking for him yet. Vernon sat in his bedroom and polished his boots as if nothing else mattered, although he’d been on edge for days. Damn, he’d messed up bad. He’d nearly smashed something when he learned that he’d hit Bishop instead of his intended target. The police weren’t giving out much information, but at least he wasn’t dead. That would have been a waste. He didn’t like killing people when they weren’t a threat. He considered trying again, but it was too soon and security would be on alert.
    He hoped the incident would still work in their favor. With Amera distracted, she wouldn’t look too closely at them. And if she did, he’d know what to do, and this time there would be no mistake.
    ***
    Amera sat in her car in the hospital parking lot, staring down at Susan’s card. She needed her help, but didn’t know how to ask her. She could still see Owen’s excited and eager expression after she’d agreed to their plan.
    “You leave the logistics to me,” he said. “He has another day in the hospital. I’ll move your clothes and other necessary items into his place and let the staff know.”
    “I can do that myself.”
    Owen shook his head. “A Bishop wife never does any heavy lifting. You might as well get used to some perks, since it won’t last long. Of course, I’ll need a copy of your key and a list of anything special you want.”
    “Okay, that’s what’ll need to be taken care of on the home front. What about the office?”
    “Keep him away from the office. He still needs to recover. He can work from home. Hell his father does, it shouldn’t be hard to convince him to do the same.” He winked and smiled. “Wifey.”
    Amera frowned. “Don’t call me that.”
    His smile fell. “Sorry. Anyway, I’d give yourself a