Chapter 1
Monday
Agatha glanced at the calendar while sipping her second coffee of the morning at the police station, reviewing the cases piled up on her desk. None of her colleagues had arrived yet, only a few officers from the night shift remained. But she couldn’t afford to waste any time. It was Monday, and she had only until Friday to meet her goal: solve more cases than Inspector Vidal.
She was a competitive woman. Very. She hates losing. And more than that, she was certain she was the best inspector in there. As if maintaining her title wasn’t enough pressure against a younger rival, the stakes of their bet... well, she still wasn’t entirely sure how she had agreed to it in the first place. Rio Vidal had promised the worst date imaginable. One so horrible that she’d never forget it. In return, for such an outrageous deal, Agatha had demanded the younger woman’s old motorcycle, fully aware of how much it meant to her.
They had three months to see who could manage to arrest the most criminals and, although Agatha was leading at the moment, she was not going to be complacent. After all, when it came to work, she liked to do things right.
That determination had led her to decide to wake up earlier that week. Everyday. She knew Vidal wouldn’t bother, so she planned to use that edge to her fullest advantage.
Her gaze lingered on the calendar, on the five days that remained. She could do it, she could win. She had the experience, and there was no way she’d endure a date with that woman. Sure, she was attractive —Agatha wasn’t blind— but since the day the younger inspector had been transferred to that police station a few months ago, she’d discovered just how insufferable she could be. Vidal knew exactly how to push her buttons, to irritate her and test her patience like no one else could. Not that it was particularly hard to get on Agatha’s nerves, but no one excelled at it quite like Rio. It made her lose any appeal she might have otherwise had.
Agatha finished her coffee with a last long sip, placing the mug back on the desk with a soft thud before redirecting all her focus to her work. Fortunately, she had several straightforward cases lined up, ideal for quickly padding her lead on that infuriating scoreboard. Everything was going according to plan, and the next hour flew by without a hitch, the time slipping by almost unnoticed.
Until a voice —irritating, yethatefully attractive— broke her concentration completely.
"Well, well. Look who decided to come in early today.” Rio Vidal’s teasing tone was her version of a morning greeting that day. With her black and green motorcycle helmet under one arm and wearing a fitted leather jacket, she approached with her usual air of nonchalance –far too relaxed for Agatha’s taste–. A playful smirk tugged at her lips, the kind of smile that always managed to irritate Agatha.
Without asking permission, and with that same brazen confidence she always exuded, Rio perched slightly on the edge of Agatha’s desk, invading the woman's personal space knowing how much it would annoy her.
“Don’t tell me the amazing Inspector Harkness is a little scared?” Rio added, arching one of her eyebrows, her smirk only deepening.
Agatha kept her eyes firmly on the documents in front of her, trying hard to ignore her. She waas mentally counting to five silently before answering. But the pause didn’t help; it was useless. She was still just as annoyed. It wasn’t even officially work hours yet, and Vidal was already there, testing her patience. A patience that was, by nature, incredibly short. It was almost as if provoking her was Vidal’s real job, and not being a cop.
“Maybe you should invest in some glasses and shut your mouth, Vidal.” Agatha finally raised her gaze, shooting the younger woman a withering look. “The scoreboard clearly shows I’m ahead. By a lot. So if you don’t mind, I have more important things to do than pay attention to you.”
The sharpness in her tone was deliberate, a direct answer, a clear attempt to shut down the conversation. But Rio, as always, was unfazed. Instead of backing off, her smirk widened, as though Agatha’s words had only fueled her.
“There are still five days left,” Rio said, slowly standing upright and releasing the woman’s desk from her grip. But before walking away, she leaned in just enough to lower her voice, delivering her next words as a provocative promise: “Don’t start celebrating too early. I plan on giving you the worst date of your life.”
Without waiting for a reply, Rio turned and strolled back to her own desk, leaving behind her a frustrated Agatha, who tried to shake it off, focusing again on her paperwork. She would never admit that those words, spoken in that way, had made her a little nervous.
At her own desk, Rio settled into her chair, but her gaze frequently wandered back to to the figure of Agatha. There was something fascinating about watching her work with such intensity, that blend of determination and irritation that made her impossible not to provoke. It had become a habit since Rio’s transfer to that police station, one she had no intention of breaking. Not that she could help herself. Besides, it didn’t help that Agatha was attractive —exactly her type— and provoking her was both ridiculously easy and endlessly entertaining.
The truth was, Rio already had the date planned. She also knew exactly how to win the bet. Everything was going as she’d hoped, and when the end of the week came, she was certain she’d enjoy herself… far more than she’d ever admit aloud.
But even if she had everything planned and thought out, for now, there was work to do and criminals to catch in New York City. The prize wouldn’t win itself. And as much as she wanted the date, she couldn’t afford to lose her motorbike. It was practically part of her personality, her identity, and an excellent tool for picking up gorgeous women. There was no way she’d let it go that easily. And so, with a reluctant sigh, she got to work.
Hours passed, and the police station grew busier, the increasing number of people and noise made it harder for Agatha to concentrate. She resisted the urge to shout at her colleagues, but a third coffee break became necessary at that point.
“Vidal says you’re only up early because you’re scared she’ll win. Honestly, I can’t believe you agreed to that bet.” Agatha looked up from the freshly poured cup of coffee to see her workmate approaching. Wanda had always been one of the people Agatha tolerated best in that place. A bit chaotic for her taste, but a damn good inspector.
“I hate losing, and I want to shut her up,” Agatha replied quickly. “Besides, I think I’ll really enjoy taking her bike when I win.”
“You sound pretty confident. Don’t you think she could catch up? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her work this hard.”
“Maximoff, there’s no way I’m going on a date with her. I’d rip my hair out. I’m not losing,” Agatha said with firm conviction. Although she couldn't stop her friend from ending up laughing.
“I hope you’re right. Going bald wouldn’t suit you.” Agatha rolled her eyes at the comment but used it as an excuse to end the conversation between them, returning to her desk in search of some peace and quiet. She just hoped that everyone would shut up, even a little. But, of course, that wouldn’t come so easily. “Guess where I’m going, Harkness.” Rio appeared, twirling her bike keys. “Off to catch some bad guys. Better get ready to lose.”
Before Agatha could respond, Rio left the station, leaving her staring after her, frustrated. Her gaze shifted to the scoreboard. She still had a five-point lead, but it wasn’t safe to get comfortable. Especially since Rio was about to make her first arrest of the day while she was stuck on a case that should’ve been easy. Fuck. She had chosen it because it was easy, it shouldn't be taking her so long. She can feel frustration and anger bubbled inside her.
Thankfully, she finally resolved it, making her own arrest later that day. But Rio had caught two thieves, narrowing the gap between them.
When Agatha got home, she was exhausted. Still, she followed her routine: feeding Señor Scratchy, taking a shower, changing into her pajamas, and eating a light salad for dinner. Truthfully, she wasn’t very hungry. If she didn’t manage to solve the two cases on her desk tomorrow, Vidal would overtake her.
She couldn’t let that happen. It would bruise her pride and her impeccable reputation. After all, an inspector ten years younger would have arrested more people than she did. Although she was sure that the captain of the police station had assigned her more difficult cases for that very reason.
Tuesday.
Rio woke up that morning very slowly. But the sound of the alarm didn’t give her any respite until she finally turned it off, staying for a few minutes staring at the ceiling, trying to process the fact that she had woken up earlier that day. If Agatha Harkness was going to go to work earlier, so was she.
Although it was not very early either. Waking up early was difficult for her, but this was a good reason. She wanted to get that date, to laugh a little at Agatha, and she hoped with Agatha too. The woman was attractive; she had thought about it the moment she first saw her. But seeing her attitude, and especially her attitude with her... Well, she couldn’t resist testing her, and that was what she did every time she had the chance. This was going to be one of those moments, but this time she had made sure to involve the whole station.
Even the idiot of the captain knew about the bet. But rumors were that he would retire soon. She hoped that was true because the current one... nobody could stand him. The only thing she could thank him for was approving her transfer request, and nothing more.
Finally, the morning began slowly. She took a shower to wake up and quickly had a coffee for breakfast. She put on some comfortable jeans, a black shirt, and her leather jacket. She loved it. It was like a good luck charm to her. Besides, she was a police inspector, and she had always thought that wearing it gave her an extra edge.
Everything was ready. After a final glance in the mirror, she left for work on her motorcycle, like every day.
When she arrived at the station, Rio didn’t have to search much to find Inspector Harkness. As always, she was at her desk, leaning over a pile of papers with the expression someone would have who took their work too seriously. It was almost comical: while Rio preferred to improvise and avoid tedious paperwork at all costs, or do it quickly without much detail, Agatha seemed to enjoy it. Or at least, that was what she conveyed to others.
And whether Rio liked it or not, the reason Agatha arrived early wasn’t a mystery. It wasn’t only the arrests to win the bet; there were also the endless reports that the department required. Rio couldn’t care less, but she knew that Agatha Harkness couldn’t leave something for later; she had to keep everything up to date and meticulously done.
With a mischievous smile and her motorcycle helmet in hand, Rio crossed the room. She stopped in front of Agatha’s desk and, without hesitation, dropped the helmet onto the pristine surface, disturbing her order and trying to get her undivided attention. Successfully achieved. She didn’t need to look to know that Inspector Harkness was about to kill her with just a glare.
“Good morning, Inspector Harkness.” Rio tilted her head slightly to the right with a carefree air, letting her smile grow just a little bit more. “I see on the scoreboard that we’re getting closer. Closer to our date.”
Yes, that was her way of greeting: getting straight to the point, and at the same time, poking at the wound.
Agatha raised her gaze slowly and calmly, first placing the pen on the desk as if the simple act of answering Rio exhausted all her patience. Her tone was cold, though the challenge in her eyes gave her away.
“Vidal. I’m still winning.” There was no “good morning.” In fact, she paused, studying the other woman from head to toe before adding, with a barely perceptible smile, “And, from what I see, you’re starting to get scared. You even came half an hour earlier to work.”
The comment was sharp and direct, but it didn’t seem to affect Rio, who didn’t flinch. In response, she only leaned slightly toward the desk, reducing the distance between them. Their faces a few inches apart
“Scared?”. She repeated with her right arched eyebrow arched. “Don’t confuse my professionalism with concern. I just want to enjoy giving you the advantage, so the defeat will be even more painful later, Agatha.”
The spark in Agatha’s eyes intensified, but instead of replying, she turned her attention back to her papers, as if the conversation had ended. However, Rio knew that it had affected her. She could see it in the slight stiffness in her shoulders and the way she pressed her lips together, resisting the impulse to respond.
This was going to be fun.
Throughout the day, both worked as usual. Each focused on their own tasks, with no distractions beyond the usual conversations in the hallways of the police station. The first one to leave to investigate a case was Agatha, but Rio didn’t take long to do the same. And, similarly, this was the order in which they returned.
When Rio came back into the station, satisfied with the work done that day, she couldn’t help but let her gaze immediately fall on Agatha, who was still at the place despite the late hour. She was one of the few people left. Rio knew it was something Agatha often did; it wasn’t the first time she had seen her work late into the night. It was as if she had no life outside of work, something that Rio, though she didn’t share, couldn’t help but admire in a way. Rio herself enjoyed her work immensely, took cases home, and sought out new challenges, but she always knew when it was time to disconnect.
Rio watched Agatha for a few seconds, tilting her head slightly as she evaluated her next move. Finally, she made a decision. Calmly, she approached the desk where Agatha was leaning, focused on a board filled with notes and photographs, concentrating on what was in front of her. To Rio’s eyes, at that moment, she was stunning. She had eyes, after all, and that view was hard to ignore.
Maybe influenced by that thought, Rio chose not to start with her usual provocation. She simply leaned lightly on the desk next to Agatha, crossing her arms and looking at the board as well, trying to see what it was that had the woman so engrossed.
“What are you working on today?” It was genuine curiosity. She truly wanted to know what kept Agatha there at her workplace. That was evident in her tone, which surprised Agatha, who glanced sideways at her with a certain calmness.
“A robbery.” She answered, making a pause, weighing how much it was worth sharing the information with Rio. “Several jewels were stolen from a safe box, but I’m almost sure they did it to collect insurance money while keeping the jewels. But I can’t prove it.” She admitted to herself, thinking aloud. She was Agatha Harkness, and she had solved far more complicated cases than this. She felt frustrated.
“I imagine you’ve searched in all their properties for clues.” Rio commented, assuming that Agatha had already done everything possible to find the jewels. “Why don’t you tell me everything you know so far? Maybe if you say it out loud, it’ll help.”
Agatha narrowed her eyes, hesitating. Did she want to ask for help from Rio? Certainly not. But she was stuck, and at that moment, it seemed like one of the best solutions. Especially considering that she couldn’t afford to waste any more time in the case. The countdown to end that week was still ticking. She couldn’t afford to lose more time.
“Alright, I guess I won’t lose anything telling you about the case.” She finally responded, letting out a heavy sigh of resignation. After a few seconds in which she thought about where to start, she pointed to one of the photos on the board. “This is the family that reported the robbery. According to their statement, they were traveling when it happened, but...”.
Rio nodded, slightly tilting her head as if she could already anticipate the rest of the sentence.
“But it’s a trip that no one can verify?”. She interrupted, with a mischievous smile. Agatha rolled her eyes at the interruption but continued with the explanation.
“Exactly. The couple says they went camping, but there’s only one photo at a gas station. And the security cameras at the house show someone entering, but they were wearing gloves and a balaclava. No clear clues... yet. I feel like something is slipping through my fingers; my instincts are telling me so.”
Rio tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Maybe you’re overthinking it, Harkness. Sometimes, the best thing is to take a break and see it with fresh eyes.”
“Is that your way of saying you have no idea what could have happened?” Agatha replied, raising one of her eyebrows, in a tone less friendly and more like the one she usually used when speaking to Inspector Vidal.
Rio shrugged, not losing her smile. In reality, in moments like that, she could see that the coldness Agatha portrayed was just a facade. She was sure of it. And it only sparked her curiosity. It also helped that solving another case might win Agatha's respect. She hopes so.
“You’re wrong. It’s my way of saying we should order pizza and keep working. If the case doesn’t solve itself, at least we won’t be hungry. I haven’t had dinner, and I’m sure you haven’t either.”
Agatha sighed, but a small glimmer of amusement flickered in her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, a break wasn’t such a bad idea. Plus, the woman was right. She hadn’t eaten anything since noon. She hadn’t even remembered it.
“Just this once, Vidal. Don’t get used to it. And you’re paying.”
“Of course. But if we figure this out before the pizza arrives, you're going to have to admit that I'm a better inspector than you.”
“Dead first.” Agatha shook her head, though the hint of a small smile betrayed her apparent irritation.
Rio walked to her desk with cell phone in hand to place the order, while Agatha stared at the whiteboard, feeling a little less alone with the case. Truth be told, she had always preferred to work alone. Otherwise, she liked Wanda as her work partner, she liked the woman and that was rare for her. But with Rio... He had never worked with her. She knew she was good, not as good as her, but good. And, despite the competition, she could make the exception and spend a couple of hours trying to undo the knot of clues in front of her.
For her part, Rio was surprised at how events had unfolded. The last thing she expected was for Agatha to agree to work with her on any case. She had made it clear on several occasions that she did not tolerate her. For that very reason she wanted to take advantage, be careful with her words and not blow it. After all, she was someone from whom she could learn a lot. As rude as she was, everyone agreed that she was the best at her job. She was surprised she hadn't been promoted by now. But he would find out why eventually. At that moment, she wasn't going to press her.
She ordered two pizzas. Something simple, hoping she got it right, and returned to the woman who was still listening for clues.
While they waited for dinner, Agatha began to explain all the details about the insurance policy to Rio. They also looked for errors in the alibis or unfilled time gaps. Mostly, things that didn't match the husband's and wife's versions. The pizza arrived and the hours flew by as they worked. Agatha didn’t usually allow herself to relax like this, but there was something oddly comforting in Rio’s presence. Despite the rivalry, there was a sort of unspoken understanding between them. They both knew how to push each other’s buttons, but they also respected each other’s skills. And, in that moment, that was enough.
Until, finally, something happened.
“Agatha, isn't this one of the stolen jewels?”. Rio asked, showing the woman's instagram profile to Agatha. She had to zoom in as much as she could, but it certainly looked like it. The inspector couldn't believe it, how could she have missed that? Let's see, it was very well hidden and a bit pixelated, but she felt like a rookie.
“And the photo is from yesterday. I should have looked at it again this morning. Fuck.” She was angry at herself for missing something so simple.
“How idiotic do they have to be to upload this knowing we're watching them?”. Rio asked, with a small smile and renewed motivation. Despite everything, she didn't want the woman to martyr herself. She had seen how hardworking and meticulous she was. She knew it wasn't normal for her not to see those things and he wasn't going to gloat just yet. At least not until some time had passed.
“If the picture was taken yesterday, that's the proof I needed. Especially knowing they had increased the insured value of the jewelry. Newbies.” Deep down, beneath his own frustration, she was glad she had that lead and could move on. “We can question them again.”
Rio held the woman's gaze, allowing himself to be caught by those blue eyes, with a quiet smile. When she realized she hadn't responded, he looked at the time. It was quite late. “Do you want to go now or...?”.
“No.” Agatha replied, firmly. Actually, it was weird, but she could do it in the morning. There was only one thing... “First thing tomorrow. Try to get there a little earlier, like today. They're idiots, they're not going anywhere.” That was all his explanation, finally getting up and stretching his body a bit. A few hours of sleep would do her good.
Rio was quick to mimic her, though she didn't look away as the woman stretched. She might have wanted the date with her more than ever at that moment. Shit. But seeing that other side of Agatha's personality... She'd liked it. Working with her had been great.
“I'm not as bad at it as you think I am at getting up early.” She replied, reaching over to her own desk to grab both: her green motorcycle helmet and her black jacket. She hadn't been aware of the fatigue until that moment.
“Yeah. Surely not.” The sarcasm was noticeable, though Rio didn't feel attacked. That seemed to be the tone the two of them had found to communicate. And she liked that provocation.
Agatha, for her part, picked up the documents that had been scattered on her desk. She closed the folder with a definitive blow and, after putting on her jacket, tucked it under her arm. Ideally, she would like to finish the case as soon as possible, but she had an idea that would be easier to execute the next day.
When she finished grabbing her things, her gaze met Rio's, who was waiting for her by the door, helmet in hand, with an expression that seemed amused, but that she didn't quite decipher.
“What?” Agatha asked, questioningly, arching one of her eyebrows.
“Nothing” Rio replied, instantly, shrugging her shoulders with some feigned indifference. “I just never thought we'd end up being such good partners in crime. We're good at collaborating, we should do it more often.”
Agatha snorted, adjusting her jacket as she moved towards the door ready to leave the place followed by the woman.
“Yes, of course. Because what I need right now in my life is to spend more time with you.”
“That sounds almost like a compliment, Harkness.” Rio smiled, finally putting on his helmet once they reached the street. “First thing tomorrow morning then. Don't go standing me up after making me get up early.”
Agatha paused for a second in the doorway, glancing sideways at her, with her car keys already in her hand. She thought the words over calmly and shook her head slowly, suppressing a smile that threatened to appear.
Agatha disappeared in her car, and Rio ended up leaving on his motorcycle. Despite her tiredness, she couldn't help but feel satisfied. For some reason, Harkness' company had made her forget the weight of the day. And although she would never admit it, she looked forward to the next morning with some trepidation.