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..."

signs as he crouched

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

darted around. "She's a

Brian nodded eagerly. "And?"

me loose,

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

"Do it. Poison me. Then, say goodbye to Mr.

at a

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

not matter; high bounties were the true

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

one to

he be if he was

fiddle, then stepped forward with a smile,

were full of anguish as he watched his pilfered

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

not

eyed Vivienne warily. "You'd do that for

like, and I'll make sure you have everything you need for your

potentially spill the beans -

about to let this chance slip

still could not believe it, eyeing

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

any recognition; it

could scarcely believe that his long-time rival was actually showing him

How could that be?

antidote for this potion, my

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

hear was her saying how much more she

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