Chapter 3
After the case, Agatha worked all afternoon. On one hand, she finished the paperwork with almost mechanical efficiency, trying to get everything in order as quickly as possible so she could continue investigating the next case. That week, she couldn’t afford to waste a single minute. Despite her determination, she couldn’t avoid Wanda’s occasional interruptions, usually with comments that had little to do with work.
Rio, meanwhile, had lunch with Alice, calmly explaining to her how things had gone with Agatha. At no point did she delve into how she had felt being with her. How her mind couldn’t help but think about her or about working together again. Saying it out loud would make it real, and that was something she wasn’t ready for.
The fake date was fine. The bet had started as a joke to tease Agatha, nothing more, something innocent. But after spending two days with her... well, she wouldn’t mind if that date became real. Even thinking about it felt like utter madness. They barely knew each other, they had barely talked. It didn’t make sense. And yet, she felt connected to her in some way.
But Alice never knew. All she heard was that the case had gone well and that her relationship with Agatha had improved. She didn’t hate her anymore —or not as much, at least—.
After lunch, both of them went back to work. For Rio, there was some backlog to catch up on after helping Agatha, so she wanted to get back on track. At the station, she cast a few glances at Agatha, though the other woman seemed absorbed, fully focused on what she had in front of her, paying no attention to anything —or anyone— else. That apparent indifference only sparked a flicker of frustration and curiosity in Rio, though she decided not to dwell on it.
When night came, however, she couldn’t resist. She wanted to talk to Agatha again, to find out how her afternoon had gone. So, after finishing her own tasks for the day and noticing that they were once again among the few remaining at the precinct, she approached Agatha’s desk. With a casual motion, she leaned on the desk, making herself comfortable as she tried to get her attention.
“Working late again tonight?”. She asked, with a slight tone of provocation in her voice, though there was no malice in her words.
Agatha lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Rio’s. She remained calm, letting a few seconds of silence pass, as if carefully considering what response the question deserved.
“No, I was just about to leave. I only need to finish a couple of papers.” She replied. Her tone wasn’t sharp or sarcastic. It was surprisingly normal. For a moment, it even made Rio feel a little concerned, she had been expecting some kind of retort.
“Tough day?” Rio asked, wanting to keep the conversation going. Just a little longer. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. Plus, her curiosity was genuine.
For a moment, Agatha remained silent again. How could she possibly tell Rio that the best part of her day had been the breakfast she brought her? She couldn’t. But as much as she wanted to deny it, it was true.
“I’ve had a pain in my ass all morning.” She said. That was her response, completely removed from the truth, but… “Though I’ve had worse days.” She admitted, softening her tone to something much kinder.
Rio rolled her eyes at those words, but the smile on her lips betrayed her. It hadn’t bothered her at all; in fact, she was completely convinced that Agatha was exaggerating. It hadn’t been that terrible for her that morning, and they both knew it.
“Well, that just leaves you with two bad days left.” Rio remarked, after making a quick calculation. And without missing a beat, she searched for another topic to keep the conversation going. “So, what’s your plan after thishard week?” Rio asked between bites, almost nonchalant in her curiosity.
Agatha, who was leaning back in her chair, thought for a moment. It wasn’t a question she was used to being asked. Usually, people came to her for advice, not the other way around. Also, she 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.
“Maybe take a vacation. A real one. A week or two without work… without responsibilities.” She let out a slight chuckle, knowing how unlikely that was. Also, it was a lie. She worked to avoid being alone with her thoughts and emotions, so a vacation wouldn't help. “It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?”
Rio gave a genuine, somewhat surprised smile. She hadn’t expected that answer. She had expected something along the lines of work until exhaustion, or something equally predictable from Agatha.
“Definitely sounds like a dream, yes. A good one, though. You deserve it”. Rio said, her voice softer than before.
The compliment hung in the air for a moment, and it almost made Agatha feel uncomfortable. But she didn’t show it. Instead, she just gave a quick nod, quickly guiding the conversation towards something other than herself, but Rio
“So, what about you? Any dreams, Vidal?” Agatha asked, leaning forward, curious but still guarded.
Rio was a bit taken aback by the question. It wasn’t often that Agatha showed interest in her beyond the case or the bet. Still, feeling comfortable enough to share something.
“I guess I’ve always wanted to make a difference. In my own way.” Rio said slowly, pausing for a moment before continuing. “I know it sounds cliché, but when I joined the police, I thought maybe I could change things, make it better. But now… it’s more about finding the next challenge. It keeps me motivated.”
Agatha nodded slowly, appreciating the honesty. It was a rare moment, one that she wasn’t sure she would have shared if the roles were reversed. She considered the words for a moment before responding.
“I can see that.” She said quietly. “You’re not just in this job to follow the rules. You want to challenge them. And I can respect that.”
Rio smiled, a playful glint returning to her eyes.
“Well, at least we agree on something.” She teased.
Agatha rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the faintest trace of a smile. For a moment, it almost felt like they were friends. Almost.
The clock continued to tick, and before they realized it, the station was almost empty. Rio stood up, stretching her arms above her head.
“I should get going. I don’t need a permanent stay at the office.” She said, standing up and gathering her things. She grabbed her jacket and her helmet, slinging it over her shoulder, and gave Agatha a brief glance.
“See you tomorrow, Harkness. Let’s see who wins the bet in the end. Te veo”.
Agatha nodded, seein Rio walk toward the exit without saying another word. Then, after a few seconds, she returned to her own desk to finish a few last details.
As the doors to the precinct closed behind Rio, Agatha found herself feeling strangely content. Maybe it was the case, or maybe it was the rare moment of connection. She wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain: the next day would be interesting.
Thursday
Two days left until the bet ends.
Agatha, as she had done every day before during that week, arrived at work early. In the morning, she followed her usual routine, although she spent more time than usual playing with Señor Scratchy, whom she had neglected a bit over the past few days. She hadn't been home much lately, but she promised herself she would make it up to her pet the following week.
Once again, she was the first of her shift to arrive, though she felt a pang of regret about it. She knew why, but she didn’t want to acknowledge it.
She went straight to her desk, settled in, and picked up the folder containing the case she would be investigating that day. A murder. At least it sounded interesting and would keep her mind occupied.
What she certainly didn’t expect was for someone to place a coffee on her desk. She knew who it was even before she looked up. The floral scent of the familiar perfume gave her away instantly. Her heart skipped a beat before she dared to raise her eyes and found herself once again meeting the younger woman’s gaze.
“Vidal.” That was her greeting as she leaned back slightly in her chair. “Up early again? Are you sick or something?”. She asked, trying to change the subject and mask the nervousness that had suddenly gripped her. After all, Rio had no reason to bring her coffee anymore.
“Good morning to you too, Agatha”. Rio replied, pretending to be offended by her words. “I was so excited about beating you here that I couldn’t sleep.” She added, her gestures exaggeratedly enthusiastic.
But she didn’t give Agatha a chance to respond, instead heading straight to her desk to put down her belongings in a routine manner.
Agatha shook her head softly, letting out a heavy sigh. That girl was incorrigible.
She watched Rio for a few moments before her attention returned to the coffee on her desk and the case in front of her. She didn’t hesitate to take a sip, fully aware that the younger woman was watching her. In part, it was her way of letting Rio know that she appreciated the gesture.
That little game between them, that silly bet, was becoming increasingly provocative. They both could feel it, though neither dared to put it into words.
The morning was normal until 10:00 a.m., when a drastic change occurred at the police station.
A woman, approximately 60 years old, entered the station in full uniform, pausing in the center to take a few moments to observe her surroundings. After that, she clapped her hands twice, the sharp sound capturing the attention of all the officers present. After a brief silence, she finally spoke.
"Good morning, officers. My name is Lilia Calderu, and from now on, I'll be in charge here. If you have any questions, my office door is always open." Her gaze swept across the faces of the officers before she turned and walked briskly toward the office of the former Captain, now vacant and ready for her.
As soon as the woman disappeared into the office, a buzz of activity erupted in the station. Even Agatha, who usually stayed away from such discussions, didn’t hesitate to approach her colleagues to comment on the new arrival.
"What do you think?" Wanda asked, watching the woman through the glass window that separated the office from the rest of the room.
"I like her. A woman as Captain? You don’t see that often". Alice quickly replied.
"I don’t like her". Rio said, surprising everyone. "The last Captain was more fun. He let us do whatever we wanted. Remember the chair races with the fire extinguishers? That’s what I mean. She seems like… she’s going to take away our freedom.".
"You’re such a child, Vidal." That was Agatha’s response from the background, where she’d been quietly listening.
"Oh, yeah? And what about you, Harkness?" Rio turned to Agatha, one eyebrow raised and a teasing smile on her lips. "I bet you’re thrilled about having someone who’s more like a strict mom than a fun Captain."
Agatha, arms crossed, sighed in exasperation before replying. The younger woman had touched on one of the few subjects she considered off-limits, but she masked her annoyance well.
"I prefer someone who does their job properly over a clown who lets you turn the station into a circus." Her tone was firm, though weary. "Besides, I don’t think you’ve had enough time to judge her. You barely know her. Maybe you should give her a chance before deciding she’s so terrible."
It was possible –just possible– that her words were a subtle metaphor for her own relationship with Rio, where both had misjudged each other before the past few days. But Agatha wasn’t conscious of this, nor did she expect anyone else in the group to pick up on it.
"That sounds like you already like her". Wanda interjected with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying the conversation and the dynamic between Agatha and Rio. She seized the moment to stir the pot. "What’s the matter, Agatha? Do you want to be her favorite?"
Agatha rolled her eyes and replied dryly, clearly fed up. "I don’t have time to worry about being anyone’s favorite. But if it means I won’t have to deal with nonsense like chair races, then she’s more than welcome."
Rio feigned an expression of offense, placing a hand on her chest. "I don’t know how you survive being so boring, Harkness."
"And I don’t know how you survive being so irresponsible, Vidal."
The exchange drew some stifled laughter from the group, but before anyone could add to the conversation, the office door opened, and Lilia Calderu stepped into the hallway with a document in hand. Her sharp gaze swept over the officers, silencing the murmurs in the room instantly.
"I hope you don’t mind if I ask for results instead of chair races with fire extinguishers." She said with a faint smile, as though she’d overheard every word of their discussion. The room fell into complete silence.
Rio opened her mouth to respond but quickly decided against it, raising both hands in mock surrender. "I think she read my mind. She’s a witch". She muttered under her breath, earning a small laugh from Alice.
After that interruption, everything went back to normal. Agatha finished the coffee Rio had given her, read through all the information about the new case, and contemplated what to do next. Because… well, at that moment, she needed to talk, and since there was only one person in the station she could tolerate spending the whole day with…
She finally approached Wanda's desk, dropping the folder onto it to get the woman’s attention. Wanda greeted her with a smile.
"I have a murder case. I'm going to start by going to the crime scene. Want to join me?" She asked, without really knowing how busy Wanda was at the moment, but she noticed a spark in the woman’s eyes.
"Sounds more fun than my stolen purse report. I’m in." Wanda replied, standing up and grabbing her jacket.
Agatha simply nodded and went to grab her own jacket so they could head out. She knew she didn’t need help with the case, but that day, she felt like she needed some company. Specifically, the company of one particular person, but she wasn’t going to ask her. Ever. And if it wasn’t her, Wanda’s company would do just fine.
As they walked to the car, Wanda couldn’t help but glance at Agatha out of the corner of her eye, her curiosity growing. The way Agatha had decided to invite her to work together that day was unusual, and it only fueled her intrigue. Normally, unless they were assigned a case together or Agatha found herself stuck, she rarely wanted a work partner.
"Can I ask you a question?" Wanda broke the silence that had settled between them as they both got into the car.
Agatha, fastening her seatbelt, shot her a warning look, thinking she already knew where Wanda was going with this. And she wasn’t having it. "Depends. Is it relevant to the case?"
"No, but that’s never stopped me before." Wanda smiled with her usual cheekiness, starting the engine. "What’s going on with you today? You’ve been acting a bit rare all morning, and it’s not like you to want to work with someone unless you’re forced to. What are you up to?"
Agatha let out a long sigh, staring out the window as if the passing scenery could provide her with an excuse. "I’m not always up to something. I just thought it might be helpful to get another perspective. Don’t forget, I have a bet to win and need to solve this case faster than usual."
Wanda raised an eyebrow, amused by the excuse Agatha had given her, because she knew it was just that, an excuse. "Sure, sure. You and I both know you don’t need my perspective. But don’t worry, I won’t press you... for now."
Agatha let out a soft grunt, feigning annoyance. The two of them had known each other for years, and Wanda could read her better than she would have liked. "Just drive, Wanda. And for the record: if you make another suggestion, I’ll leave you with your boring purse case."
"Got it, boss." Wanda chuckled lightly as the car began to move. The atmosphere relaxed a bit, though Agatha knew Wanda wouldn’t take long to circle back to the topic.
It wasn’t exactly a secret. Wanda knew there was more behind Agatha’s change in routine, and she had a pretty good idea of what it might be. But it was still too soon to bring it up directly. She understood Agatha was a complicated person, someone who required patience before opening up about anything, especially if that something involved her feelings.
The rest of the ride was spent in that shared silence until Wanda pulled up in front of the house where the crime had taken place.
Once they reached the house, both of them went up to the apartment, and Agatha was the first to take the lead. "What do we have here?". She asked the officer already at the crime scene.
"The victim is Edgar Johnson, a judge." The man explained, stepping aside to let both detectives take a closer look at the crime scene.
Agatha surveyed the scene carefully, crouching next to the victim and pointing at the knife on the floor. "I think we’ll solve this quickly. Get the knife analyzed for fingerprints". She instructed the officer, who nodded, collecting the knife and sealing it in a plastic evidence bag.
Afterward, Agatha raised her gaze to her work partner.
"What do you think, Maximoff?" She asked, since, after all, she had invited her to join.
"Someone must have hated him a lot. Being a judge, he probably had plenty of enemies." Wanda commented, circling the victim and scanning the room for anything else. "Maybe we should start by reviewing his most recent cases."
Agatha nodded at Wanda’s suggestion, but she couldn’t resist making a sarcastic observation.
"Enemies because he was a judge? Possibly. Although, looking at this apartment, it could’ve been a partner fed up with the décor. The real crime here is those curtains."
Wanda smirked, pointing to a cat-shaped wall clock that meowed every hour. "Well, this is definitely reason enough to kill someone. Can you imagine living with this every day? I think even I’d be on the suspect list."
Agatha sighed, jotting something down in her notebook. "If he did his job the same way he decorated his house... he must’ve had plenty of enemies. Let’s focus on his recent cases and see who had a motive to take him out."
"Let’s not rule out a partner tired of the décor." Wanda added, slowly examining the room.
Agatha sighed again. "Fine, we’ll start with his case history. And if it turns out it was an angry ex, I’ll buy you a coffee."
"And if it’s not, you’ll still buy me one. Because clearly, this ugly house is already affecting me."
After that exchange, both detectives seemed to delve into the crime scene with more focus, silently concentrating on their work. Eventually, Agatha noticed something else.
"There’s dirt on the carpet. The killer might’ve brought it in on their shoes. We should analyze it and check the garden for any footprints." She began, gesturing to the officer to take a sample.
"That’s a good idea. I don’t see anything else that seems out of place. Let’s hope the knife has some fingerprints." Wanda said, giving the victim one last glance.
"Besides his recent cases, we should also look into his family members. Let’s not rule out any avenues of investigation." Agatha reflected aloud, tucking her notebook away after jotting down several notes to ensure nothing was forgotten.
"We should head back to the precinct to continue investigating." Wanda replied, nodding softly at Agatha’s suggestion.
“It’ll be the best. But let’s take a look at the garden before we leave, just in case there are any footprints.” Agatha replied, immediately setting off with her companion following closely behind.
Once in the garden that adorned the entrance to the apartment complex, the two women took a walk around, finding nothing of particular significance. Although the soil had been disturbed to plant new flowers, it didn’t seem to reveal anything important. Still, Agatha instructed the officer who had followed them to collect soil samples to compare with the dirt found inside the apartment. An analysis would be the most effective way to quickly determine the source of the soil.
With everything clear, the two returned to the car, taking their usual positions and driving away.
“I hope the lab doesn’t take too long with the samples. We need this solved by tomorrow”. She said, exhaling a heavy sigh as she settled into her seat. That statement, more than a dialogue, was a thought spoken aloud.
“Two days ago, you were pretty confident you were going to win. Did something happen?” Wanda asked, taking the opportunity to steer the conversation in the direction she wanted.
“I know Vidal is up to something. She’s way too calm, and she even admitted it herself.” Agatha explained, not going into much detail but exposing her concern, which relieved her slightly.
“You shouldn’t worry so much. It’s not like the prize is terrible. A date with a gorgeous woman? I wouldn’t mind a bet like that.” Wanda confessed with a playful tone.
Agatha, in response, glared at her while making a circular motion with her hand.
“It’s Rio Vidal, Wanda, not just anyone. She’s insufferable and immature. Besides, it’s not about the date. I know I can make her time worse than she could ever make mine.” She replied once she had calmed down a bit.
“Then what is it?”
“Then it’s losing in front of the entire precinct to that idiot. I couldn’t live with that.” Her tone was dramatic, but for someone as competitive as her, the statement wasn’t far from the truth.
“I think no matter what happens, you come out winning.” Wanda concluded with a small smile on her lips. She wanted to dig deeper, but given Agatha’s reasoning, she decided to let it go. “With luck, we’ll get the results on the prints and the soil this afternoon, and we might have a suspect.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” Agatha replied.
With that, silence returned to the car until they reached the precinct, where they quickly got back to work. They poured themselves some coffee and began gathering all the information they could about judge Johnson: from his personal life to his family and his most recent cases. They only took a brief break for lunch before diving back into their research.
But by the time their shift ended, the results hadn’t come in and weren’t expected until the following morning, given the late hour.
“I need to head home, Agatha. It’s my week to have the kids at home. Are you staying, or will I see you tomorrow?” Wanda asked, concerned about her colleague’s schedule and lack of rest.
“I’ll stay a little longer. There are a couple of things I want to review,” Agatha replied, brushing off the concern.
“Don’t stay too late. We’ll figure it out tomorrow. You need to rest.” Wanda added, grabbing her purse and jacket before finally leaving, leaving Agatha working alone.
Agatha threw herself into the case, before picking up the folders, her laptop, and moving everything to her house to continue the investigation, she resolved not to waste any more time. The next day would decide everything, and she couldn’t sit idle.
She set everything down on the living room table, opened a beer, and resumed her train of thought. She only paused to pick up Señor Scratchy and place him on her lap. Coming home and hugging that adorable little pet was always comforting. She felt a little bit guilty for neglecting him all week, but she couldn’t afford a single moment of free time.
With a small sigh, she settled into the couch and let out a deep exhale, closing her eyes for a moment. She could feel exhaustion seeping through her body, every muscle aching for rest, but she wasn’t ready to give in. Not yet. Not until the bet was over. Her mind inevitably wandered back to the one concern that had dominated her thoughts that week. Well, perhaps the entire past month, but especially this week: the bet.
What kind of trick was Vidal planning to pull off to win? She knew she was up to something, not just because she had admitted it, but because of the constant, confident smirks she kept throwing her way. Agatha hated feeling foolish, like she did now, uncertain whether she was winning or losing. And if she lost, she was certain Vidal would remind her of it for the rest of their careers. She couldn’t allow that.
Yes, Wanda was right. It was a date with a gorgeous woman, and though she would never admit it out loud –not even to herself– she knew it was true. She couldn’t deny it in the safety of her home, in the privacy of her own mind. She was sure many people would kill to be in her position. A date with someone as handsome as Rio, without even having to try. It was a win, no matter how you looked at it.
But not for her. She didn’t want it.
Sinking into the comfort of her couch, her mind began to drift. She pictured Rio dressed to impress, perhaps in a striking black dress or something equally captivating. Or maybe not. Maybe she’d show up in that leather jacket of hers, the one that seemed to be a part of her very identity. Agatha imagined Rio taking her to some unexpected dinner spot. Afterwards, they would go for a ride on that old motorcycle she had once made fun of when Rio had been caught in the rain and had arrived at the police station soaking wet. She could almost hear the engine’s roar, feel the cool night air brushing against her skin, and, most vivid of all, hear Rio’s carefree laughter cutting through the silence. That damn laugh, the one that always made her look her way.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
She opened her eyes abruptly, shaking her head as if that might dispel the thoughts. She didn’t want to keep thinking about this. About her. Because what she had just imagined, truthfully, hadn’t been unpleasant. And that only made things worse. She knew Vidal had promised her the worst date of her life, not the one she might actually enjoy. And that made the situation so much harder to stomach.
She rose from the couch with a frustrated groan, unable to stay still. She paced the room, arms crossed, as if the movement might help clear her head. Her gaze landed on the black jacket draped over a chair’s back, and suddenly even the smallest things seemed to remind her of Rio.
Finally, she made the only decision that seemed logical at that moment: she took a cold shower. It helped. Her mind disconnected briefly, giving her a moment’s respite. She used that moment to climb into bed, where her only challenge left was to actually fall asleep.