Chapter Text
The last thing the suspect saw before everything went sideways was Juliet’s expression.
It wasn’t fear or anger, rather, precise calculation.
Thomas hit the pavement shoulder-first and rolled without thinking, momentum carrying him into a crouch before his brain caught up with his body. Gravel bit through his shirt like knives. Somewhere behind him, someone swore… high, panicked, unmistakably not Juliet.
“Don’t,” Juliet said calmly.
The word wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.
The man froze like he’d just realized the game had already ended.
Thomas straightened slowly, breath steadying, eyes turning instinctively to Juliet. She stood a few feet back, phone in one hand, posture loose… almost casual, except for the way her gaze had locked onto the suspect with surgical precision.
“You rerouted the funds through a shell account registered under your wife’s name,” Juliet said evenly. “You skimmed just enough each time to avoid triggering alerts. And you paid cash for a motorcycle you couldn’t afford three weeks ago.”
The man’s confidence collapsed in real time.
Thomas couldn’t help himself. “What can I say? She hates inefficiency.”
Juliet didn’t look at him. “I hate sloppy lies.”
Sirens followed soon after… Gordon, inevitably, with timing that suggested he enjoyed theatrical entrances. Thomas stepped back as HPD took over, letting the adrenaline drain from his limbs.
Juliet finally turned to him.
“Thomas, you’re bleeding,” she said.
Thomas glanced at his shoulder. “It’s superficial.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
He smiled. “It’s superficial and fine. Really. It’s just a little road rash.”
Her eyes lingered for half a second too long… cataloguing, assessing, filing the information away for later that she would definitely use against him.
“Try not to make a habit of leading with your shoulder,” she said.
Thomas shrugged. “It’s still attached, isn’t it?”
She shot him a look.
He widened his grin.
****************************************************
La Mariana was packed in the way it always was, like the whole island had collectively decided this was where the air felt best and the beer tasted colder. The music was loud enough to cover secrets and the lights were low enough that nobody looked too tired or too honest.
Rick spotted them the second they walked in and lifted both hands like he was welcoming home returning war heroes.
“THERE THEY ARE,” he shouted over the music. “MY FAVORITE P.I. DELINQUENTS.”
Thomas spread his arms. “We solved crime. Praise us.”
Juliet didn’t bother with arms. “We brought you business.”
Rick’s grin widened. “That’s not business, that’s charity.”
Thomas gasped, clutching his chest. “Higgy, did you hear that? He just insulted our profession.”
Juliet leaned in slightly, as if considering. “We could investigate him.”
Rick wagged a finger. “You two are banned from investigating me. I’m too handsome. You’ll get distracted. Plus I do you too many favors.”
Thomas slid into the booth like he belonged there. “Speak for yourself. I am immune to beauty. And when was the last time I asked you for a favor?”
Juliet raised a brow. “You are lying to yourself. You are not immune and you just asked him for a favor yesterday.”
Thomas pointed at her. “Hey, whose side are you on?”
Juliet turned to Rick. “He’s a very dramatic man much of the time. It’s tiresome, really.”
Rick leaned on the table, delighted. “Thomas, you did ask me for a favor just yesterday and do you two want your usual?”
“Yes,” Thomas said instantly.
“No,” Juliet said.
Thomas stared at her. “What do you mean no?”
Juliet’s eyes shot to him. “I’m feeling like something else tonight.”
Thomas’s mouth dropped open. “Who are you and what did you do with Higgins?”
Juliet’s lips quirked. “I evolved.”
Rick’s eyes danced. “Ohhh. She evolved. Thomas, you’re done for.”
Thomas narrowed his eyes. “Okay then, what are you getting?”
Juliet didn’t answer right away. She scanned the room… habit, then looked back at him with faint amusement.
“A beer,” she said.
Thomas blinked dramatically. “That’s… that’s the same thing.”
Juliet smiled. “Different beer.”
Thomas stared like he’d been personally betrayed. “Rick. Tell her she can’t do that.”
Rick laughed. “She can do whatever she wants, buddy. That’s why you’re terrified of her.”
Thomas leaned back intensely. “I am not terrified of Higgins.”
Juliet leaned closer, her hand resting on his forearm and voice low enough that only he could hear. “You should be.”
Thomas’s pulse jumped.
Rick returned with two beers… a Coops, an imported IPA and a plate of nachos, setting it down with the solemnity of someone presenting sacred offerings.
Thomas lifted his bottle. “To closing cases.”
Juliet clinked hers against his. “To catching idiots who think they’re clever.”
Thomas smirked. “To you being terrifying.”
Juliet took a sip, eyes on him over the rim. “To you being lucky.”
Thomas narrowed his eyes. “I am not lucky.”
Juliet set her bottle down. “You are. You are infuriatingly lucky.”
Thomas leaned forward. “Hey, I’m skilled.”
Juliet’s smile sharpened. “You’re chaos with a tan and a cocky grin.”
Thomas pointed to himself. “Higgy, I’m tactical.”
Juliet laughed… actually laughed and the sound landed warm and unexpected.
Rick watched them with the smug satisfaction of a man who had seen this dance for years. “You two want anything else?” he asked, eyes moving between them. “Food? Another round? A relationship label?”
Thomas choked on his beer.
Juliet, without missing a beat, said, “More nachos are fine.”
Rick cackled and walked away.
Thomas coughed, wiping his mouth. “Did he just…”
Juliet sipped calmly. “Yes.”
Thomas stared at her. “And you’re not even…”
Juliet set her bottle down. “Thomas.”
“Yeah?”
Her gaze locked on his and for a moment the noise around them dulled, as if the booth had slipped out of time.
“We are not discussing any of that here in Rick’s booth,” she said, voice calm, absolute. “Learn to ignore him.”
Thomas swallowed. “Okay.”
Her mouth softened, just a little. “Good.”
Thomas forced a grin. “So. We solved a case. We deserve a celebration.”
Juliet’s eyes narrowed. “Thomas, this is the celebration.”
Thomas shook his head. “No, I mean something fun. Something… ”
“You’re going to say ‘competitive,’” Juliet cut in.
Thomas paused. “…Maybe.”
Juliet leaned back, considering him. “All right. What do you suggest?”
Thomas’s grin turned slow and mischievous… the one Juliet claimed she hated and then watched like she was memorizing it. The one that did things to her that she refused to admit out loud.
“I challenge you, Higgy,” Thomas said, “to teach me something you’re insufferably good at.”
Juliet’s brow lifted. “I’m insufferably good at many things, Thomas.”
Thomas’s grin widened. “Yeah. I know that. That’s why I said something. So pick one.”
Juliet stared at him for a beat.
Then, slowly, her mouth curved into something dangerous.
“Chess,” she said.
Thomas blinked. “Chess?”
“Yes.” Juliet took another sip like this was obvious. “You play.”
“I know how to play,” Thomas said quickly. “I… ”
Juliet tilted her head. “Do you play well?”
Thomas hesitated. He knew the rules. He won sometimes. But the way she said well made it sound like a threat.
Thomas cleared his throat. “I play… adequately.”
Juliet’s smile deepened. “Perfect.”
Thomas narrowed his eyes. “Why does that sound like you’re about to ruin my self-esteem?”
Juliet leaned forward, voice low, almost intimate.
“Because,” she said, “I am.”
Thomas stared at her, excitement sparking despite himself.
“Oh, I see,” he said. “This is your idea of flirting.”
Juliet’s eyes gleamed. “This is my idea of fun, Magnum.”
Thomas lifted his bottle again, grinning like a man walking knowingly into a trap.
“All right,” he said. “Teach me.”
Juliet clinked her bottle against his.
“Oh, Thomas,” she murmured. “I will definitely school you.”
And Thomas, who had survived warzones and interrogations and the kind of danger that came with being too loyal to the wrong people… felt, with sudden certainty, that chess might be the most dangerous thing Juliet Higgins had ever offered him.
Because it wasn’t about winning. It was about sitting across from her. Watching her think. Letting the hours stretch. Letting her become comfortable in his space. Letting himself become comfortable in hers.
It was, in other words, exactly the kind of thing that changed everything… quietly, strategically, one move at a time.
Rick did not, under any circumstances, know how to mind his own business. This was a fact. A proven constant. Possibly written into the laws of physics somewhere between gravity and the way Thomas always ran out of gas.
Juliet had just finished her imported beer… slowly, deliberately, because she was the kind of person who did everything like she’d decided it was worth doing properly, when Rick reappeared at their table, wiping his hands on a towel that had seen better decades.
“So,” Rick said, eyes tossing between them with malicious glee, “I hear the word chess floating around.”
Thomas stiffened. “You hear a lot of things that aren’t real.”
Rick ignored him. “Chess, huh? Didn’t peg you for the intellectual intimidation type, Thomas.”
Thomas scoffed. “Hey. I can be intimidating.”
Juliet leaned back in the booth, arms crossing loosely. “Rick, he thinks knights are the most romantic piece.”
Rick barked a laugh. “Of course he does. The White Knight of Romance is gonna get his ass kicked in chess!”
Thomas pointed between them. “See? This is already unfair. You’re teaming up.”
Juliet’s smile was serene. “You are outnumbered by sheer intelligence, Magnum.”
Thomas gasped. “Rick, tell her that’s rude and mean.”
Rick shook his head. “Buddy, I’ve watched her verbally dismantle men twice your size for four years. This is just foreplay.”
Thomas choked again. “Can we not…”
Juliet didn’t even blink. “Rick.”
Rick held up his hands. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave.” He paused, then added, “For at least thirty seconds.”
Thomas leaned closer to Juliet, lowering his voice. “You see what I deal with, Higgy?”
Juliet tilted her head toward him. “I see someone who willingly comes here.”
“That’s because the beer is good and the bartender is emotionally abusive.”
Rick smiled sweetly. “I heard that.”
Juliet’s gaze drifted back to Thomas, assessing. “So,” she said, “you said you know how to play.”
Thomas straightened. “I do.”
“How well is ‘adequately’?”
Thomas hesitated for half a beat too long.
Juliet pounced. “You hesitated.” Her pitch changed as she measured his response.
Thomas frowned. “I paused.”
“You paused,” she corrected, “because you were calculating how honest to be.”
Thomas opened his mouth, closed it, then shrugged. “I know the rules. I can win occasionally.”
Juliet’s smile sharpened. “Against whom?”
Thomas waved a hand. “Guys. People. Navy guys.”
Juliet’s brow arched. “Men who solve problems with brute force and optimism.”
Thomas considered. “…Yes.”
Juliet nodded decisively. “Then you don’t know how to play.”
Thomas bristled. “That’s… insulting.”
“It’s accurate,” she said calmly. “There’s a difference.”
Rick leaned on the table again, delighted. “Oh, I like this game already.”
Thomas pointed at him. “You’re not even in it.”
Rick grinned. “Oh, I’m always in it.”
Juliet turned back to Thomas. “Chess is about patience. Anticipation. Control.”
Thomas smirked. “I have control.”
Juliet’s eyes flicked briefly to his knee, which had been bouncing under the table since he sat down.
“…Sure you do,” she said.
Thomas stilled it deliberately. “See?”
Juliet hummed, unimpressed. “And you don’t rush?”
Thomas hesitated again.
Juliet’s smile widened. “You rush.”
Thomas leaned back, defensive. “I move efficiently.”
Juliet took another sip of her beer, eyes never leaving him. “You launch yourself at problems like a rebel without a clue, Magnum.”
Rick laughed so hard he had to grab the table. “Oh my God. He's definitely a man without a plan most of the time.”
Thomas pointed at Juliet. “Higgy, you tackled a suspect today with a sentence.”
“Yes,” Juliet said. “And he confessed not long after.”
Thomas spread his hands. “I tackled him with my body.”
“And he ran,” she replied.
Thomas frowned. “…Okay, that’s fair.”
Rick straightened. “So. Lessons. Are there rules? Stakes? Because if there are no stakes, this is boring.”
Juliet and Thomas spoke at the same time again.
Juliet… “There are always stakes.”
Thomas… “No stakes.”
They stopped. Looked at each other.
Juliet’s eyes narrowed. “Why no stakes?”
Thomas shrugged. “I don’t want you turning this into psychological warfare.”
Juliet leaned forward slightly. “I would never.”
Thomas stared.
Juliet added, “Without reason.”
Rick slapped the table. “This is incredible. I should charge admission.”
Thomas sighed.
Juliet considered, tapping one finger lightly against her bottle. “Fine, no stakes.”
Rick scoffed in disappointment. “Really Thomas? This makes me sad for you.”
Thomas paused. “Rick… butt out.”
Juliet smiled, slow and dangerous.
He grinned. “Okay. No stakes. But I get one condition.”
Juliet lifted a brow. “You’re negotiating?”
“I’m learning,” Thomas said. “Chess strategy. Remember?”
Juliet gestured for him to continue.
“No trash-talking while teaching,” Thomas said. “You can trash-talk during games. Not lessons.”
Juliet stared at him for a long moment.
Rick held his breath theatrically.
Juliet finally said, “I make no such promises.”
Thomas groaned. “Higgy.”
She sighed, as if conceding a great sacrifice. “Fine. Minimal trash-talking during lessons.”
Thomas stuck out his hand. “Deal.”
Juliet looked at his hand, then took it… firm grip, steady, no hesitation.
Her hand was warm.
Thomas noticed.
Juliet noticed that he noticed.
Neither of them commented.
Rick cleared his throat loudly. “Wow. That felt intimate.”
Thomas and Juliet dropped hands at the same time.
Juliet shot Rick a warning look. “You’re on thin ice.”
Rick grinned. “Hey, I live there.”
As if summoned by chaos, Gordon appeared at the edge of the bar, scanning the room with the weary expression of a man who knew exactly where trouble liked to sit.
He spotted them instantly.
Gordon walked over. “I should’ve known.”
Thomas lit up. “Gordon! We caught your guy.”
“Yes, you did,” Gordon said, deadpanning him. “And then you vanished before I could buy you a thank-you beer.”
Juliet lifted her bottle slightly. “Rectifying that now.”
Gordon’s eyes moved between them. “…Why do you two look like you’re plotting something?”
Thomas opened his mouth.
Juliet beat him to it. “We’re discussing chess.”
Gordon stared. “…Chess.”
“Yes,” Juliet said. “Thomas needs structure.”
Thomas glared. “I do not need structure. Navy SEAL, remember?”
Gordon looked at Thomas. Looked at Juliet.
Then sighed. “I don’t even want to ask.”
Rick chimed in. “She’s about to humble him. Hey, can I come watch?”
Gordon winced sympathetically. “This is gonna hurt. I hope she shows mercy.”
Thomas waved him off. “I’ll be fine.”
Juliet smiled at Gordon. “He won’t be.”
Gordon shook his head. “I’m staying out of this. I value my sanity.”
Smart man, Thomas thought.
Gordon clapped Thomas on the shoulder. “You’re buying next round.”
Thomas nodded. “Worth it.”
Gordon glanced at Juliet. “You good?”
Juliet met his eyes. “Always.”
Gordon hesitated, then nodded, “Be gentle with him. I don’t think his frail ego can handle it,” and stepped away.
Thomas watched him go, then looked back at Juliet. “Everyone thinks you’re terrifying.”
Juliet shrugged. “I cultivate it.”
Thomas smiled. “You don’t have to with me.”
Juliet’s gaze held his for a fraction longer than usual.
“I know,” she said quietly.
The noise of the bar swelled around them again, but something had shifted, just a degree, just enough to notice if you were paying attention.
Juliet stood, slipping her jacket on. “We should go. Early morning.”
Thomas stood too. “Yeah. Okay.”
They lingered, neither quite ready to leave.
“So,” Thomas said. “When do lessons start?”
Juliet stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough that it felt like a secret. “Tomorrow night. Main house. Seven.”
Thomas’s grin was slow. “This is gonna be fun.”
Juliet’s eyes flicked over him, assessing… not his body, but his intent.
Juliet turned, then paused. “Oh, and Thomas?”
“Yeah?”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Bring humility.”
Thomas laughed. “No promises, Higgy.”
Juliet’s smile curved, sharp and fond all at once.
“I didn’t think so,” she said and walked out into the warm Hawaiian night.
Thomas unlocked the car and they climbed inside. The engine revved.
Chess.
Yeah.
This was going to change things.