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..."

eyes might as well have turned into dollar signs as he crouched

Mr. B's face, a visage not even the likes of Quincy had laid

"She's a dame, about five-six, with

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

you cut me loose, then I'll

His confidence swelled again.

say goodbye to

at

the idea 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

did not matter; high

face. "Cut me loose, and you have

it!" Brian was not one to let go

of bounty hunter would he

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

he watched his pilfered potion taken from him.

offer you a lab to continue your research and protection from Brian's hunting," Vivienne said,

spoken, not even his greed

warily. "You'd do

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

who had seen Mr. B and could potentially spill the beans - easier to handle than a

not about to let this chance slip

could not believe it, eyeing

intense. "You're the most talented poison master I've ever seen. Your concoctions have earned a place in my collection, and you're the only one who can unlock the secrets of 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 serious?" Brody could

it

scarcely believe that his long-time rival was

How could that be?

if you can help me find the antidote for this potion,

on that antidote right now!" And so, with flattery from Vivienne, Brody's

could hear was her saying how much

the Specter Healer? He