Hey Guys, sorry I haven't uploaded in awhile. I was upstate New York, no internet connection, although I did manage to get in another chapter or two, so I'm posting them both because this one's too short and is mostly dialogue.

Thank to the few who have reviewed, hopefully there will be more comments after these are read.

Anyways, I'm gonna shut up now. Enjoy!

Secrets and Bad Guys

"The Oldsmobile Cutlass," the man with the sunglasses remarked, "An expensive car, if there ever was one. Ostentatious of you, Paulie boy. You paid for that? Or did you get it for free?" He smiled, pearly whites glinting.

"Don't be stupid, Marley. Wizard gave this to me, special. It was a gift. I ain't into that business no more, copping cars is for amateurs. You know this is the real deal. The Lion failed, hopefully the Tin Man won't.

Marley grinned.

"And if Tin Man fails…"

"Then we'll just have to bring in the Scarecrow."

The two men laughed and lit their cigarettes. Marley had a thought suddenly, and he plucked his cigarette out of his mouth, waving the smoke in Paul's face.

"Hey Paul, ever wondered what would happen if Scarecrow failed?"

Paul looked at his partner for a brief moment, then laughed and shook his head.

"You're crazy, man. Scarecrow is a changed man, he ain't gonna fail. He's just got out on probation. He's been waiting his whole life to get back at that Garrett girl. Now Wizard's giving him the opportunity to get her, along with the others. He ain't got no emotion left in him. Just cold as stone." He expertly blew out a ring of smoke.

Marley nodded.

"You're right." He looked at Paul.

"Y'know, Paulie Cracker, I could probably take him. Scarecrow I mean. I could take him."

"Man, stop that. You never know who's watching'"

"Oh, come on. What are you saying, the walls have ears now? You're paranoid, man."

"Yeah, I'm paranoid and you're cracked. Perfect duo."

"I know it." Marley said proudly.

"You never seen Scarecrow before, what makes you so sure you can take him?"

Marley drew himself up and looked at Paul, cocking his eyebrow.

"What makes you so sure I can't?"

"Man, Mar, I've met him. Both of them, Wizard of Oz and Scarecrow, in the same room together. They come from the same place. A crazy house." Here he paused, looked around the parking lot, and lowered his voice dramatically.

"The Asylum."

"Is that why Wizard wants us keep on referring to our business in the code?"

"The Wizard of Oz code, yeah. Keep your voice down, will ya?"

"Are they really that scary, in the same room together?"

"Tough as nails. Please, keep it lower, Mar!"

"Is Scarecrow as tough as Wizard, you think?"

"No, Wizard is, well… "He trailed off, giving Marley the opportunity to interrupt him.

"What's he look like, Wizard I mean. What's he like?"

Paul shrugged and took another drag off his cigarette.

"I can't describe him, to tell you the truth. It's weird, even when he's in the light, you can't really get a sense…I just can't recall his face. I saw him just yesterday, too. How crazy is that, man?" He laughed nervously and looked about him again.

"Maybe he did some mind-control thing on you, man."

Paul stared.

"You're cracked."