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

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

"She's a dame,

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

me loose, then

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

"Do it. Poison me. Then, say goodbye

was at a

leads on Mr. B's

looks did not matter;

brought a smirk to Brody's face. "Cut me

was not one to let go

kind of bounty hunter would he be

played Brian like a fiddle, then stepped forward

of anguish as he watched his pilfered potion taken from him. "Hey, that's

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

Vivienne had spoken, not even his

eyed Vivienne warily. "You'd do that for

and I'll make sure you have everything

could potentially spill the beans - easier

not about to

not believe it, eyeing her

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

any recognition; it was from the Specter

scarcely believe that his long-time

How could that be?

can help me find the antidote for this potion, my

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

could hear was her saying how much more she would respect

one-up the Specter Healer? He would be a