Chapter 4
Friday
The last day of the bet.
Rio woke up with renewed energy. That night, at the end of her shift, she would have a date with Agatha. There was not a shred of doubt inside her, as she had been planning that one for the past few weeks.
In fact, she had a small bag prepared with some of the pranks she had planned for her date with Agatha. She had spent more time than she’d care to admit carefully choosing each item: from a ridiculous hat with blinking lights that she intended to force her to wear, to a junk food menu that, according to her, was a gourmet experience for dinner. Everything was designed to get Agatha on her nerves, but in a way that Rio hoped would end in laughter. Because, even though she wouldn't say it out loud, the true purpose of her night was to help Agatha relax, maybe even enjoy herself.
While eating breakfast, once she was dressed, a mischievous smile appeared on her face as she imagined Agatha's reaction to the place where she planned to take her.
She knew the inspector hated anything messy and chaotic, so she had picked the loudest, most crowded bar she could find for after dinner. Of course, she had already reserved a table strategically placed next to a karaoke machine. Rio had a plan: at some point during the night, Agatha would end up singing, even if Rio had to bet her own pride to make it happen. After all, considering their bet, Agatha wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Rio set her coffee cup down on the table and stood up, looking out the window, letting her mind wander for a few seconds. Although the entire date had been framed as a series of pranks to give Agatha a hard time, a small part of her couldn’t ignore the possibility that, by the end of the night, something more might emerge between them. Something unexpected. Something real. But at that moment, Rio pushed those thoughts aside. There was a whole day of work ahead of her. She couldn’t worry about how the date might end or get her hopes up. The night itself would be the one to decide if something was meant to happen.
With everything ready, she left her house and headed to the police station, where a big day awaited her. But not without first making an obligatory stop at the coffee stand near her workplace to grab a coffee for Agatha. She wasn’t sure if the woman appreciated it, but the day before, just with that gesture, Rio had noticed a certain closeness between them over the last few days. And that was definitely something she wanted to keep as long as she could.
She ordered the coffee exactly the same way as before, since the inspector hadn’t seemed to complain, and decided to add a small chocolate cookie to the order. After all, she was about to bruise her pride today, she might as well start the day on the right foot.
When she entered the station, she was surprised not to see Agatha at her desk. While it was still half an hour before their shift started, she knew the woman had been arriving first every day recently. She left the coffee and the small paper bag with the cookie on Agatha's desk and then went straight to her own desk.
She had gotten up early just to talk to her for a bit, using the excuse of annoying her. If she wasn’t there, it didn’t make any sense. For a moment, she sat staring at the other woman’s desk before letting out a sigh. After that, to avoid driving herself crazy, she got to work.
Ten minutes later, Agatha arrived at the station. She looked more disheveled than usual, with a poorly tied ponytail and dark circles under her eyes. Rio’s gaze immediately fixed on her, trying to analyze and deduce the reason behind her appearance.
Had the woman been out all night? Had she slept with someone? No, it was Agatha. It wasn’t that she wasn’t attractive –she was– but Rio knew that the woman had spent the entire week focused solely on working and beating her in their bet, not on anything else. Or at least, that’s what she hoped.
What Rio certainly couldn’t imagine was that Agatha had spent a terrible night thinking about her. At one point –during an absolute moment of weakness– she had even considered letting herself lose that silly bet just to have the damn date. Her! Considering something like that. Pathetic. Thankfully, by two in the morning, she had come to her senses and decided absolutely not. No way would she ever want a date with Rio. That was impossible. But the few hours of rest she managed to get that morning had taken their toll.
When she arrived, she didn’t even notice Inspector Vidal, heading straight to her desk, oblivious to everything else. It wasn’t until she sat down that she became aware of the coffee and the cookie on her desk. For a moment, time seemed to stop. She hadn’t had breakfast.
Slowly, she turned her head to lock eyes with Rio, who was staring at her with those big brown eyes. She hesitated over what to say. Especially after the previous night. She felt her stupid heart speed up slightly because of that gesture, because of those eyes. But she forced herself to calm down.
Taking advantage of the coffee in front of her, she picked it up and used it as a shield, forcing herself to sound and appear nonchalant.
"It’s incredible that you got here before me." Agatha commented, trying to steer the conversation. "Are you bringing me coffee to get me to forgive you when I win your motorcycle? Because that’s not going to work." She added, attempting to downplay the situation and reclaim her usual demeanor.
"Good morning, Inspector Harkness." Rio replied, crossing her legs without breaking eye contact from the woman. "Oh, not at all. This is just to soften the blow of your loss today." She sought to maintain the playful dynamic Agatha had started. Rio was well aware that, disguised as rivalry, this was Agatha’s way of expressing gratitude without actually saying it. And, deep down, Rio enjoyed it.
Agatha took a sip of the coffee and set the cup on her desk with a soft thud. She was using it as a tool to buy herself some time, to carefully think through how to handle the conversation. She was still affected by the previous night.
"A loss? Is that the word you’ve decided to use today? You’re very optimistic." She countered, though her tone had lost some of the usual strength and provocation it carried. Maybe it was the coffee, or maybe it was the way Rio was looking at her, but her words felt less like a confrontation and more like a game.
Rio shrugged, the smile still lingering on her lips. "I’m not optimistic, Harkness. Just realistic."
"For someone so realistic, you seem nervous, Inspector."
"Nervous? I’m never nervous, Harkness. Don’t mistake my kindness for fear." Rio shot back, leaning slightly over the desk, her tone dripping with smugness. "Besides, if you actually manage to solve something on time today, I might even buy you a second cookie. But no promises."
Agatha let out a small huff, trying to suppress a smile. "How generous. I see you’ve already accepted that you owe me a motorcycle and a breakfast. It’s a good start."
Rio raised her eyebrows, amused. "I didn’t say that. But now that you mention the bet... I hope you’ve prepared a little speech for when I take you out to dinner. I’m sure you’ll want the moment to be memorable for the entire precinct."
Agatha rolled her eyes, feeling heat rise to her face. It was infuriating how easily Rio could play with her. Though part of the blame, she told herself, was the exhaustion. Yes, that was it.
"The only memorable thing will be me going home tonight on your old motorcycle. Now, if you’ll excuse me, some of us have work to do." Her tone grew firmer this time, as if she were trying to regain some control over the situation and put an end to the conversation.
Rio leaned back, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Of course, Inspector. I wouldn’t want you blaming me for losing later."
Agatha shook her head, biting into the cookie with a little more force than necessary. As she opened the folder with the case files, she couldn’t help but cast one last glance at Rio, who was still there, looking perfectly comfortable as she observed her with a grin.
"Don’t you have work to do, Vidal? Or are you planning to spend the whole morning sitting there, bothering me?".
"I’m just making sure you enjoy your breakfast. But don’t worry, Harkness, I know when to retreat." With that, Rio stood up, throwing her a playful wink before disappearing down the hallway.
Agatha let out a deep sigh, trying to focus on her work. But as she reviewed her notes, her mind kept circling back –again and again– to that coffee, that cookie... and those damn brown eyes.
Wanda arrived at the precinct on time, unaware that Agatha had been coming in early all week. But as soon as she saw her, she didn’t hesitate to approach, stopping directly in front of her. It was then that she noticed her appearance and posture, slightly hunched over the desk with a messy ponytail.
"How late did you stay working? You should’ve gotten some rest." Wanda said, a mild reprimand delivered in a kind and understanding tone. As she spoke, the redhead placed her bag on her own desk before returning to her colleague, crossing her arms.
"It wasn’t work." Agatha replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she now owed Wanda an explanation, and she wasn’t alert enough to come up with a good excuse.
Wanda, for her part, raised an eyebrow, waiting expectantly.
"Señor Scratchy wouldn’t let me sleep." Agatha finally improvised, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. It was a lie. A harmless lie, but a lie nonetheless. Her pet was the only thing she could think of to justify her exhaustion. "And I overslept. I didn’t have time to get ready." She concluded, shrugging lightly, hoping Wanda wouldn’t press further.
"Yeah… Señor Scratchy." Wanda repeated, raising both eyebrows in a mix of skepticism and amusement. Agatha was going to have to try harder if she wanted her to believe that.
"Yes, Señor Scratchy." Agatha affirmed firmly, trying to make her words sound as clear and credible as possible. She hadn’t missed the slightly mocking tone in her colleague’s voice. "But anyway, it doesn’t matter. I reviewed all of the judge’s recent cases yesterday. I didn’t see anything unusual. We’ll need to go down to the lab and demand the analysis results, they’re taking too long."
"I was just about to tell you that." Wanda replied. "We could also grab a coffee on the way, although I see you already have one." She added, gesturing toward the cup on Agatha’s desk with a nod of her head.
"Yeah, Rio brought it for me." Agatha responded without thinking, automatically. She said it so naturally that she immediately realized her mistake. She hadn’t used her usual Vidal , or Inspector Vidal , or even idiot or any of her usual teasing nicknames. Just Rio.
Wanda didn’t let the detail slide, her eyes widening in slight surprise.
"Rio brings you breakfast? Should I know why?". She asked, her tone curious and faintly teasing, leaning forward slightly as if she were about to uncover a juicy secret.
"To annoy me, Maximoff. That’s all, nothing else. To annoy me with that damn bet." Agatha replied firmly, shutting down the subject. She grabbed her coffee and took a quick sip, as if that would close the conversation for good.
"Yeah… sure. Just to annoy you." Wanda remarked, letting her words hang in the air as a small smile formed on her lips.
Agatha shot Wanda a glare. "Let’s go." She said decisively, standing up with feigned energy. "We need to get the analysis results and the fingerprint reports too."
Wanda stood as well, though her smile didn’t fade. "Alright, alright. But this isn’t over. You know that, right?"
Agatha let out a small grunt, shaking her head as the two walked toward the elevator. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wanda."
"Sure you don’t, Agatha. Sure you don’t." Wanda replied with a casual tone, clearly enjoying her colleague’s slight discomfort as they made their way to the lab. Still, she decided to drop the subject –for now– and didn’t press further. But now more than ever, she found herself hoping Inspector Vidal would win the bet and they’d have that date. It could be fun. And it might even help Agatha unwind.
The two of them walked through the hallways in silence until they reached the lab. The air was filled with the characteristic smell of chemicals and disinfectant, and the bright white lights made everything feel colder. As they approached, a lab technician was waiting to hand them a folder with detailed reports. He also gave them a brief verbal summary of the findings.
Once they were back at their desks, they sat across from each other, each with a copy of the reports. Agatha finally relaxed a little upon seeing that, while the autopsy had been meticulous and thorough, the key piece wasn’t there. The real breakthrough in the case lay in the fingerprint analysis retrieved from the weapon. It was clear and precise: a direct match with the building’s gardener.
The soil analysis was also damning, implicating the gardener. The soil composition from the garden perfectly matched the dirt found in the judge’s apartment. Agatha tapped her fingers lightly on the table as she processed the information. This had been surprisingly easy. Even though all signs pointed in one direction, her instincts told her there was something more, something they were missing. But what could it be?
"This was easy, wasn’t it?" Wanda commented, looking up from the papers once she’d finished reading. "I mean, the fingerprint was so clear, and the soil too. It’s a pretty sloppy crime scene."
"Sloppy or desperate." Agatha replied as she stood up, her jacket already in one hand. The adrenaline of closing in on the case helped her push past the exhaustion and fatigue that were starting to weigh on her after the week she’d had. "Either way, I’m not wasting another minute. If he’s innocent, we’ll find out. And if he’s not… well, I’m one step closer to beating Vidal."
Wanda nodded, though uncertainty still lingered on her face.
"Shall we, Maximoff?" Agatha asked, gesturing toward the exit with a tilt of her head.
"Let’s go." Wanda replied as she stood up, grabbing her coat before following her colleague. The two of them left with determination, heading for their assigned vehicle, ready to face whatever came next.
When they arrived at the suspect’s house, he opened the door politely, genuinely surprised by their visit. He didn’t try to run or anything of the sort. Instead, he was cooperative and explained his alibi for that night. He’d had dinner with some friends, and it had gone on late. He gave them the restaurant's details and the contact information for his friends so they could call and verify, as well as check the security footage.
Agatha knew there was something more. She’d known it from the start. This only confirmed what she’d already suspected. Still, both she and Wanda would have to verify the man’s alibi, and if it checked out, they’d have to look for new leads in the investigation. Damn it. The bet ended at five o’clock, and it looked like this case was going to drag on.
Back at the precinct, the two of them got straight to work. They made the necessary calls and requested the security footage to verify the man’s alibi.
“I don’t think it was him." Wanda remarked as she dropped into her chair, her gaze fixed on the reports scattered across the table.
"Neither do I." Agatha admitted, mirroring her partner's posture. They were at a crossroads. "While we wait for the remaining analyses, we should go over the cases the judge handled again. Something tells me the clue we need is there."
"We don’t really have any other leads right now." Wanda replied with a hint of sadness, closing the case file with a soft but definitive thud. Her tone, though professional, betrayed a touch of frustration. She had her own cases to deal with, and this one was slowing her down. She’d hoped the analysis results would provide a breakthrough, but they hadn’t.
Agatha drummed her fingers on the table, her expression neutral. Inside, though, she was far from calm. The confirmation of the gardener’s alibi had complicated everything. He wasn’t the culprit, but someone had gone to the trouble of framing him. Why the gardener? Was it just an easy choice because of his access to the crime scene, or was there something deeper behind that decision?
"This doesn’t make sense." Agatha finally said, crossing her arms as she stared at the reports strewn in front of her. "I don’t think the killer had anything personal against the gardener. It doesn’t add up. They just used him as a scapegoat because he was convenient, he worked in the building."
Wanda nodded, idly spinning a pen between her fingers. "Which means the killer probably had access to the building and investigated him enough to use him in their alibi."
Agatha glanced at the watch on her wrist, almost reflexively. The time for the bet was fast approaching. She let out a heavy sigh, trying to mask her unease, but Wanda noticed.
"Is something wrong?" Wanda asked, her tone curious, tinged with a hint of concern.
"No, nothing." Agatha replied quickly, too quickly, perhaps. But her mind wasn’t entirely on the case at that moment. Despite her efforts to focus, part of her brain kept circling back to what would happen that afternoon. She was still ahead by five points, but Rio’s insinuations the day before had left her unsettled. The other woman’s confidence kept echoing in her mind, and she couldn’t help but imagine all the ways this supposed date could turn into a nightmare.
She rubbed her temples with her hands, trying to clear her head. Damn it. She couldn’t afford to be this distracted. Not now.
"You’re acting strange today." Wanda pressed, narrowing her eyes as if trying to solve a puzzle. "You know if you want to talk about it... I’m here, right?"
Agatha frowned, striving to keep her composure. "It’s nothing, Maximoff. Let’s focus on the case." But her voice didn’t sound as firm as she wanted it to.
The two of them got to work, going through the judge’s cases one by one, from the most recent to the oldest. It was a task that took far longer than they would have liked, and the monotony of the work began to creep in. The reports felt repetitive, and a sense of futility started to set in, as if they were chasing something they’d never find.
Their only distraction was lunch. Wanda had gone out to get something more elaborate than what the station's vending machine could offer, while Agatha stayed behind, eating a cold sandwich and choosing to continue with the investigation.
In a moment of distraction, she lifted her gaze, her eyes landing directly on Rio’s desk. It was empty, as it had been since they’d parted ways that morning. She regretted getting sidetracked by the coffee and not asking what case Rio was working on at the moment. Maybe then she’d have at least some hint of what might happen in a few hours and wouldn’t feel so... unsettled, vulnerable. But she hadn’t done it, no. She’d let herself get charmed by a coffee and a few provocative words.
Her eyes lingered on that chair for a while. Rio’s leather jacket wasn’t there, which meant she wasn’t at the station. Though, Agatha had figured as much since she hadn’t heard her voice or laughter at any point. And in her opinion, both were unmistakable.
She let out a soft sigh before finishing her lunch and leaning back slowly in her chair. She couldn’t keep thinking about her. Especially not now, with so much work to do.
If someone had told her three months ago, when they started that silly bet, that she’d be this worried about Rio Vidal, she wasn’t sure she would have agreed to it. But here she was, on the verge of ending it all, tolerating Rio more than ever. Worse still: she’d even dreamed about her last night. But that was something she’d take to her grave. No one could know if she wanted to preserve her dignity and pride. Not even Wanda.
She shook her head slightly, trying to rid herself of all the thoughts swirling in her mind and refocus, her brow furrowed. She even felt a small wave of relief when Wanda returned with her food, ready to continue, because her mind seemed determined not to cooperate, too distracted.
Several minutes passed as Agatha tried to concentrate while Wanda ate. But eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“This is useless.” Agatha said, her impatience growing in the face of the lack of leads. “Let’s go back to the crime scene. Maybe we missed something.” It wasn’t a suggestion, it was practically an order. She needed to get out of there and feel like she was doing something to move the case forward, not just sitting in her chair.
Without waiting for her partner’s response, but seeing that Wanda had finished eating, Agatha stood up and grabbed her jacket once more. The sooner they got to work, the better for the case.
They didn’t take long to return to the victim’s house; both of them already knew the way. Agatha checked her watch. There were only hours left before the bet ended. Just hours. She had to be at the station at that time, obviously. But even so, she would make the most of the time, hoping to find something.
Once at the house, they began searching, not entirely sure what they were looking for. They just needed a clue, something out of place, something that wasn’t staged.
Agatha felt the ticking of the clock in her head. She felt her opportunities to secure victory slipping away. For once, her motivation wasn’t about catching the culprit or proving her intelligence against that of a murderer or thief. No. This time, it was about the bet. A bet that was getting closer and closer to its conclusion.
Finally, after more than an hour rummaging through shelves, drawers, and cabinets, Agatha let out a growl of frustration as she slammed shut a toolbox she had found in the garage. Afterward, she went to find her partner to see if, at least, she had found something else.
“This is useless, Wanda. This place is cleaner than an operating room. We’re not going to find anything.”
Wanda, who was meticulously inspecting a desk in the judge’s study, didn’t respond immediately. Her fingers brushed against a hidden compartment she had just discovered while feeling along the bottom edge of a drawer. With a soft click, the compartment opened, revealing a thin gray folder.
“And what’s this?”. Wanda murmured to herself before pulling out the folder and opening it. Inside were a couple of loose sheets of paper. The first was a typewritten letter in black ink. The words on the page were direct and disturbing.
“If you convict my son, you’ll pay with your life.”
The threat was clear, but the most revealing detail was the signature: “A father who would do anything to protect what he loves.”
Wanda froze for a moment, trying to process what she had found. “Agatha.” She finally said in a serious tone, laden with urgency.
Agatha crossed the threshold of the study, her hands on her hips and an impatient expression on her face. “What is it? Did you find something?”
Wanda held up the letter, offering it to her partner so she could quickly read the words it contained. As Agatha progressed through the letter, her brow furrowed deeply, and her mind began piecing things together. Finally. Finally, they had something more after such a long day.
“The father of one of the convicted?” Agatha reflected aloud. “The judge sentenced several important people in recent months. But who would have a son involved in something serious enough to go this far?”
“That’s what we need to figure out. But this explains why they tried to frame the gardener. He was the easiest target, someone with no apparent connection to the judge.”
Agatha nodded, feeling a renewed energy. “If this man’s son was convicted, he would have plenty of motive to seek revenge.”
Agatha placed the letter into an evidence bag she carried with her. “Whoever it is, we’re going to find out. We need to review the most recent cases and check if any of them involved a young defendant or a father who played a role in the trial somehow.”
Wanda checked the time and nodded. “This is exactly what we needed. Shall we head back to the station?”.
Both women quickly left the house with the letter, fully aware that every second mattered. The race to uncover the truth was not only key to solving the case but also to winning the bet.
Once back at the station, they began ruling out cases. They knew it was a man, so they started by discarding women. They also narrowed it down to men under 35. She knew it couldn't be someone much older. The pile of cases dwindled exponentially in no time, but it still wasn’t enough. There was still work to be done.
By the time Agatha realized it, Rio was standing before her, holding a counter. Of course, she had prepared for that grand entrance. Agatha had recognized her footsteps the moment they approached, and now the woman was there, standing confidently, clutching the device and looking at Agatha with a smug smile that made every muscle in her body tense.
Pathetic , Agatha thought. Pathetic , but her heart didn’t seem to agree. In that moment, it started pounding violently, forcing her to hold her breath for a second. What was going to happen next? She needed to know. No, she needed to confirm what she already knew. Despite having had the upper hand all week, she had lost spectacularly to an inspector younger than her. She couldn’t believe it. A part of her was fiercely fighting to not accept it, but the truth was undeniable. She had lost.
She fought to keep her face calm and composed, but the slight furrow of her brow betrayed her. She simply stood still, watching what was happening, and then, it happened.
“Bring them in, boys.”
Those words hit Agatha like a gunshot. Only twenty seconds remained on the clock, but just then, several officers began parading more than ten detainees toward the station’s holding cells.
Rio’s gaze locked onto Agatha again, and she flashed a triumphant smile.
“We conducted a quick raid on a brothel and arrested thirty men. And before you tell me, ‘That’s not a crime,’ because I know you were going to, let me tell you it is if they violate the Second Amendment. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what fifteen of these men were doing”. Rio explained quickly, watching the confusion flicker across the oldest one's face.
Rio had won. She had won, and now she’d finally get to go on a date with Agatha. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, savoring the moment of victory. She hadn’t been sure if she could beat her at first, but the idea she’d had a month ago had felt like the perfect opportunity. And now, she could relish it, knowing she was, for once, slightly superior.
Agatha, on the other hand, couldn’t believe it. She felt as though the ceiling of the station was collapsing on top of her. How could she, someone so intelligent, so methodical, have failed to consider something like this? Something so simple? She finally understood why Rio had been so calm all week, why she had taken things so lightly. It had all been planned. Every detail orchestrated to humiliate her in front of her colleagues. And she had walked right into the trap.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Agatha’s anger was painfully obvious: the vein bulging in her neck, her deeply furrowed brow, and her heavy silence. Her breathing was labored, and she could feel the rage swelling uncontrollably in her chest. She felt the attention of the entire station pressing down on her. Everyone knew she had lost. Even Wanda was smiling. At that moment, Agatha wanted to kill someone.
But she couldn’t. Not here, not with so many officers watching and witnessing everything.
And yet, the worst was still to come. No, the worst was just beginning. Rio delivered her final blow, the ultimate humiliation, turning an already horrible day into an outright nightmare.
Agatha watched as Rio set aside the counter she’d brought to the station for her little spectacle and stepped forward with firm, deliberate steps. After flashing one last smile –unbearable yet undeniably attractive– Rio knelt before her, pulling a plastic ring from her pocket.
Agatha felt the world stop, as if there was no air left in the room, and feared the worst.
Rio cleared her throat softly and looked up at Agatha, looked in those deep blue eyes.
“Agatha Harkness, will you have the worst date of your life with me?”
Agatha’s breath hitched. But Rio knew she couldn’t say no. She knew she wanted to kill her. Oh, how she wanted to kill her: slowly, painfully. But Rio didn’t care. She had won the bet.
And yes, Agatha was going to kill her. She was going to kill her in the worst possible way. If the humiliation of losing wasn’t enough, this certainly was.
But, above all else, Agatha was a proud woman. And she had lost, fair and square. She knew how to admit defeat, even if it burned her to her very core.
She tried to relax her expression, but it was futile. Even so, she carefully considered her words, knowing there was only one right answer at that moment.
“Yes, I do.”