The Million-Dollar Heart

Brody snorted coldly at Vivienne. "Just you wait. I'll concoct a poison that makes yours look like cherry soda, and you won't even know what hit you when you're lying six feet under!" Without missing a beat, Brian's hand connected with a resounding smack to the back of Brody's head. "What's with that tone? You talking to Vivienne like that? Looking for a knuckle sandwich?" "You already gave me one!" Brody roared back.

Brian, unimpressed, hoisted Brody up by his collar and started fiddling with his face, poking and prodding. "Your face is quite real, isn't it?"

Right now, Brody was tied up tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey, unable to make any moves, much less poison anyone. His sharp tongue was about the only weapon he had left.

Seizing a moment of distraction, Brody sank his teeth into Brian's finger. "This is my real face!"

Instantly, Brian's finger started to turn a shade of purple as vivid as a ripe eggplant.

Vivienne casually dusted some powder on Brian's hand, then looked at Brody. "You're quite the spring chicken."

She had to admit Brody's disguise was top-notch.

Back in the loony bin, she had not even realized he was in disguise.

She had truly thought that the nerdy loser look was Brody's actual face.

Tsk.

She had underestimated her adversary.

"The secret's in the moisturizer!" Brody panted, plopping onto the floor. "Brian, cut me loose. I'm a small fry, really. I've got bigger fish for you."

Brian's interest was piqued, poison forgotten. "Bigger fish? Who?"

Brody wiggled a bit. "Untie me first."

"Spill first," Brian retorted, unmoved.

Brody took a deep breath, feeling like a caged lion taunted by mutts.

"Ever heard of GTO? They've got a second-in-command, who goes by Mr. B. I've seen her. The bounty on her head..."

yours!" Brian's eyes might as well have turned into dollar signs as he crouched down eagerly. "Describe Mr. B to me." Vivienne's

Mr. B's face, a visage not

eyes darted around. "She's a dame, about five-six, with

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

you cut me loose,

His confidence swelled again. "Believe me, I'll let Vivienne here poison

unfazed, scoffed at the threat. "Do it. Poison me. Then, say goodbye

at

of just letting Brody walk and, with it, any leads on Mr. B's bounty - which would be a jackpot ten times Brody's size - was

did not matter;

smirk to Brody's face. "Cut me

not one to

kind of bounty hunter would he be if he

stepped forward

watched his pilfered potion taken from him. "Hey,

lab to continue your research and protection from Brian's hunting," Vivienne said, toying with the potion in her hand. Brian stood by her side, wisely holding his

Vivienne had spoken, not even

"You'd do

me what Mr. B looks like, and I'll make sure you have everything you need for your experiments,"

seen Mr. B and could potentially spill the beans -

was not about to let

believe it, eyeing

this potion. Your expertise isn't just in poisons. If you wanted to create antidotes, you'd do it with ease. Even this potion, I've been at it for ages with no luck, but you - you can crack it. I respect you, really." "You're

any recognition; it was

his long-time

How could that be?

me find the antidote for this potion, my respect for

I'll get to work on that antidote right now!" And

saying how

Specter Healer? He would be a fool