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..."

turned into dollar signs as he crouched down eagerly. "Describe Mr. B to me." Vivienne's

Mr. B's face, a visage not even the likes

"She's a

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

you cut me loose, then I'll

at Vivienne. His confidence swelled

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

was at

on Mr. B's bounty - which would be a jackpot ten times Brody's size -

world, looks did not matter; high bounties were the

Brian's dilemma brought a smirk to Brody's face. "Cut me loose, and you have

not one to let

he be

a fiddle, then stepped forward with a smile, retrieving a

watched his pilfered potion taken from him. "Hey,

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

spoken, not even his greed could

eyed Vivienne warily. "You'd do that for

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

Mr. B and could potentially spill the beans -

about to let

still could not believe it, eyeing her

Your expertise isn't just in poisons. If you wanted to

just any recognition; it was from the Specter Healer

could scarcely believe that his long-time

How could that be?

help me find the antidote for this potion, my respect for you will only

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

saying how much more she

rare opportunity to one-up the Specter Healer? He would be a