Chapter Five

Within seconds, Cliff was taken up to his hotel room, escorted by the doctor that the bartender had mentioned to Helena. His colleagues immediately gathered in the corridor outside his room, as the witch still tried to come to grips with what he had shared with her. Shocked to her core, she chose to stay on the other side of the hallway. The possibility of them asking her questions was more than a possibility. It was certainty, one that she could gladly do without. Helena was in no condition to handle three, persistent men. Satisfying their curiosity felt like a Herculean feat to her, as Cliff’s every sentence swirled in her mind. Despite her shock, however, she had to admit to herself that she had been extremely lucky. Cliff was plain and simply broken; and she had caught that man in his most vulnerable time. He had been using alcohol to numb his pain, and she was there to hear him out when he couldn’t help but speak. In her heart, the witch knew very well that, had he not been intoxicated, the chances of her finding out anything about the case were very slim. She might have felt for him, but it was more than obvious to her that his drunkenness had worked in her favor. Still, her job there wasn’t done. Helena had yet to discover the evidence Cliff had on the Bradford’s. His vulnerable state was an ideal opportunity to find out more information, and, if the witch wanted to take advantage, she had to stay put.

After a while, the doctor emerged from Cliff’s room. She was a little too far to hear what he was saying, but, judging by the smiles on the agents’ faces, Cliff was doing just fine. One by one, they entered his room, as she breathed a sigh of relief. But, it wasn’t long before she heard what sounded like her name. The voice was somewhat faint at first, but, very soon, a much clearer baritone echoed back at the walls of the corridor.

“Get me the redhead in the hot, green dress!”

The corners of her lips quirked up in a devilish smile, as she started towards his hotel room. Helena felt flattered that a total stranger like him desired to see her more than he wanted to be with his colleagues. Overflowing with confidence, she covered the distance that separated her from him in seconds. Striding into Cliff’s room, she ran into the three, baffled FBI agents, as they stared at the door. He was under the covers, with an even drowsier look on his face. His eyes had narrowed, but the green in them was darker, under the pale light.

“Helena,” he spoke, his voice calm and steady, as he glanced up at her. “I wasn’t expecting you to still be around.”

“You collapsed on me,” she teased, as her smile widened. “I had to make sure you were okay.”

“Give us the room, boys,” Cliff urged, as he flashed an appraising look at her. His colleagues obliged.

“So, how are you feeling?” Helena asked as she sauntered towards him.

“Like crap,” he gave a short laugh. “My stomach hurts and my head’s about to explode. The room’s spinning. But, it’s good you’re here. I wanted to apologize to you for…”

“Apologize!” she exclaimed, as her face twisted in confusion; “What for?”

“Nearly knocking you off your stool,” Cliff explained, his voice lowering, as she halted on the left side of his bed.

“You’re grieving,” Helena made her own voice sweeter sounding, bending her knees to sit down on the floor. “It’s totally understandable. Don’t beat yourself up over it, okay?”

“You’re not,” He emphasized, as his gaze followed her. “You’re not wearing black, and you didn’t even flinch when I told you I was sorry for your loss. How come? I mean, you’ve just lost your niece.”

“It’s hard to feel sorry for someone you’ve never even met,” she explained, banishing the rage that sent her voice down an octave. Donna’s treachery had been punished, but the mere remembrance of it was enough to upset her. “She used to live in L.A. She’d just moved into town.”

“She was still family,” Cliff insisted, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“By blood? Sure, I suppose,” she responded, nodding at the same time. “But, blood ties to someone are not necessary for me to consider someone my family. I didn’t even know she existed, until three days before she moved in. Her father and I hadn’t spoken in years.”

“I understand,” he muttered under his breath, blinking even heavier than before. “Go, Helena. Don’t let me keep you from your friend.”

“She just sent me a text. She said she couldn’t make it,” A lie: another white lie, or, at least that’s what she thought, as she tore her gaze away from him. “Her baby’s got a bad cold. She’s taking him to the pediatrician.”

Helena anticipated some sort of a rebuttal, as she stared down at her heels. Yet, she never got one. For a moment, she believed that her reaction had given her away. But, as she returned her attention to him, she realized that he couldn’t have done so. There was peace in the FBI agent’s face. He had descended into Morpheus’ arms, as his chest rose up and down in rhythm. Disappointment unfurled in Helena’s chest. Any hope she had of getting more information was shattered. In the blink of an eye though, that awful feeling turned into an uncontrollable urge to remain by his side, just for a little while longer. A few strands of his hair were flowing over his forehead. His alluring mouth was shut, as the shadow of his cheekbone fell onto his clean-shaved cheek.

“Damn you, Daniels. Did you have to be so beautiful?” Helena thought to herself, unable to take her eyes off of him. The witch drew in a sharp breath, pondering her next move. However, all that beauty before her eyes could not be resisted. Cliff might have been the enemy, but in all her years, she had never seen such incredible features on a human’s face. Without much thought, she leaned over him, and lightly pressed her lips onto his cheek, wishing that he had not fallen asleep. Helena whispered “goodnight” in his ear, and then eased back, feeling her adrenaline storm into her veins. The rush made her consider disappearing, like she would do in any similar situation. But, there were dozens of cameras in that hotel, and she had no idea if Cliff’s coworkers were still outside his room. What if they walked in, and discovered she was gone? No, acting like a witch was not an option. Instead, Helena rose to her curvaceous, 5’6” figure, and turned around. Desperate to get out of there, she quickly put distance between them. She strode out of Cliff’s room, breathing faster, as she recalled the tranquility on his face.

“I’ve never been so tempted in my whole life. Snap out of it, Helena. Stay away from him. Find another way to put your hands on that evidence.”