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 down eagerly. "Describe Mr. B

face, a visage not

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

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

loose, then I'll

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

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

at a

and, with it, any leads on Mr. B's bounty - which would be a jackpot ten times Brody's

matter; high bounties were the

smirk to Brody's face. "Cut me loose, and you

was not one to let go of

kind of bounty hunter would he be if he

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

anguish as he watched his pilfered

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

had spoken, not even his

eyed Vivienne warily. "You'd do

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

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

was not about to

not believe

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.

recognition; it was

believe that his long-time rival was actually showing him

How could that be?

antidote

get to work on that antidote right now!" And so, with flattery from

saying how

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