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..."

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

Brody had seen Mr. B's face, a visage not even the

"She's a dame, about

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

cut me loose, then I'll

cursed, shooting a glance at Vivienne. His confidence swelled again. "Believe me,

the threat. "Do it. Poison me. Then, say goodbye to Mr. B's bounty, too.

at

letting Brody walk and, with it, any leads on Mr. B's bounty - which would

looks did not matter; high

face. "Cut me

was not one to

bounty hunter would he be if he was

watched as Brody played Brian like a fiddle, then stepped forward with a smile, retrieving a potion hidden on Brody's

watched his pilfered potion taken

protection from Brian's hunting," Vivienne said, toying with the potion in her hand. Brian

had spoken, not even his greed could

"You'd do that for

me what Mr. B looks like, and I'll make sure you have everything

could potentially spill the beans - easier to handle than a wildcard like

about to let this

could not believe it,

isn't just in poisons. If you wanted to create antidotes, you'd do it with ease. Even this potion, I've

any recognition; it was

long-time rival

How could that be?

find the antidote

on that antidote right now!" And so, with flattery

saying how much more she

He would be