DISCLAIMER: The characters Catherine Chandler, Joe Maxwell, Vincent, Father, Diana, and Jacob are the property of Warner Brothers. The characters Jarod, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots are the property of MTM Entertainment and NBC Productions and used without permission for the purpose of entertainment only. No infringement intended.

This story is based on the second half of the 1st season of Pretender and the 3rd season of the series Beauty and the Beast which starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Pearlman. Jo Anderson played Diana. (1999)

Summary: When Jarod investigates a "lost child" case in New York, he crosses paths with Detective Diana Bennett. Will she discover his secret before he uncovers hers?

A/N: This story is complete, but I'm posting it in chapters for easier reading. I wrote this awhile ago, but I'm still very proud of it. Never had feedback on it, so please share your thoughts.


District Attorney

Joe Maxwell's Office

"Catherine Chandler's case has been reopened?" She hadn't wanted to believe it when she had been first called in over the telephone. She hadn't wanted to believe it when she got on the plane and flew into New York. She hadn't wanted to believe it when she was riding in the taxi to the D.A.'s offices. But now as she stood in Joe Maxwell's office, repeating the very words that had sparked her journey, she knew it to be true and any last lingering doubt vanished as Joe nodded his head.

"That's right. One aspect of it anyways," Joe said. He was sitting behind his desk.

"But what about..." Diana began to say.

"We have new evidence that's been brought to our attention...a new case that goes back to the old one," Joe explained and his eyes looked past Diana towards the door. She turned to see. "Here's someone I'd like you to meet. Detective Holmes this is Detective Bennett."

"Detective," the man in his late thirties nodded at her. "You can call me Jarod." His brown eyes looked her over, a bit suspiciously, she thought. His attitude was cool and his brown hair was short but spiky.

Diana acknowledged him and then turned once again to Joe. "But we already know about--Cathy's murderer. There are no grounds for reopening her case." She wasn't able to bring herself to say the dreadful name of Gabriel. Now THAT was someone she'd rather forget.

Joe motioned for the two to sit down. Diana sat, or rather fell into a chair, draping her jacket over her knees. As usual, she was wearing blue jeans and a blue sweater. Jarod sat down in another chair and seemed ready to speak. He gave a questioning look to Joe.

"Alright, Bennett," Joe said, folding his hands on the table. "Detective Holmes' specialty is investigating older cases when new evidence comes to light. Apparently, one of his investigations brought him to Cathy's files and something we missed." With that, Joe gave Jarod the floor.

Jarod stood up and held out a snapshot to her. She looked at it. It was a grey-eyed, brown-haired boy. He looked about seven years old. "His name is Mikey. He was taken illegally by his father. His father was apprehended but the boy is still missing. I've been tracking the boy. He's in this part of New York. Several people have identified him. Apparently, he was living on the streets and police chased him when he was seen pickpocketing. They didn't catch him. He's disappeared and no one has seen him in three days."

Diana nodded. She intently studied the face of the boy, his clothes, and Jarod's demeanor as he told the story. "What has that got to do with Cathy's case?"

"Mikey was last seen here." Jarod held out another photo to her and she took it. It was a large building. She recognized it immediately. "This fact brought to light that this is not the first time someone has disappeared near here."

"What?" Diana asked. The little boy had been alone on the streets, she was thinking. Jarod was spending a lot of time trying to find him. Why was that? Children disappeared every day.

"The baby," Jarod replied.

"The baby?" Diana repeated. "Catherine Chandler's baby?" What did Jacob have to do with this?

"Yes," Jarod replied, reemphasizing his words and apparently studying her reaction. "The baby Catherine Chandler delivered before she died was never found. Now, Catherine Chandler's murderer had kidnapped the infant?"

Diana looked at Joe. Was this man actually questioning her?

Joe caught her meaning. "Look," he said. "I told Holmes how you worked on the Chandler case. You were closer to it than all of us. I figured you wouldn't mind answering a few questions."

"You have the report," Diana retorted. She took a serious look at this Detective Holmes, what a name, and decided immediately that something definitely was afoot with this character.

Joe caught the edge in her voice and knew now was the time to step lightly. "As a favor to me, I'd like you to work with him on this."

Diana stood up. "You want to know what happened to the baby. Alright." Joe began to relax. "I'll do it. But I'll do it alone."

Joe shot straight up in his seat and his annoyance was plain. "I called you because I know how close you got on this case. You knew more than any of us and..." he paused and Diana knew he wanted to add 'and there were secrets you never told.' He would not accuse her in front of another. He had too much respect for her to do that. "I didn't have to call you but I did...because I figured you would want to know. By all rights, it's still your case. If not for me, then for Cathy. For her child. Come on, work with me on this."

Diana considered for a moment. She was doing this for Jacob's sake. The last thing she wanted them to do was to find Jacob. If she accepted well...but if she did not accept and somehow the investigators found out--Diana sat back down and crossed her arms. "Alright. Yes, Cathy was kept alive until the baby was delivered. Gabriel..." she paused as the name still sent shivers down her spine. "Wanted to adopt him as his own son."

"There was an empty crib in the room where," Jarod's voice ran on quickly, "his body was found." Diana tried to keep from wincing. Thankfully, he omitted reviewing how Gabriel's death had come about. "One of the other bodies found in the house was a doctor."

"That's right. The child had been sick," Diana replied. "I know because Gabriel kidnapped me and told me." This was also in her report. She had written her report with as many facts as possible. As long as the facts didn't reveal the secret, she had kept them true to life. As for the rest, well, she had let the police and D.A.'s offices fill in the blanks with their own assumptions.

"And you saw him?" Jarod questioned.

"Yes."

"The baby?"

"Yes. I saw both of them." Stick to the truth. Stick to the truth as long as it doesn't lead them anywhere. "What you're asking me about happened almost eight years ago. The boy you're looking for just disappeared." She brushed a few strands of hair back. "How can you see a connection?"

"Can you say that there isn't one?" Jarod countered.

Joe broke in. "Obviously it's gonna take some time to work out all the little details. When you come up with some breaking news let me know about it, k? Here's the info on the case." Joe held out several manila folders to Diana. She took them. "Get to work." Joe waved them away.

Diana nodded, hiding her relief and stood up. Jarod already had reached the door and held it open for her. She walked past him and he followed. When they reached the lobby of the building, she turned on him. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I have to go. I just got back into town and there's a few things I need to take care of." Diana knew she sounded very abrupt and it probably seemed like she couldn't wait to get rid of him. (which wasn't to far from the truth.) She paused momentarily as Jarod took a pez canister and popped a piece in his mouth.

"Want one? They're very good," Jarod interjected, holding out the canister.

"I'm sorry," Diana began again. "I'm used to setting my own pace. It's going to take some getting used to." She shook her head and suppressed an urge to smile. This boyish incongruency in Detective Holmes was amusing and--odd. Diana studied him a moment. She immediately knew that she wasn't dealing with your ordinary detective. And she had known quite a few in her line of work.

Jarod smiled at her and put the canister away. "I still need to ask you some questions. Parts of your report seemed a bit a sketchy and I'll be happy if you could help me fill in the details. Perhaps later? After you've taken care of what you need to take care of, of course."

"I'll meet you tomorrow morning for coffee. There's a cafe down the street. We'll talk then. Eight sharp," Diana tossed this over her shoulder as she went out the door. She walked quickly and chose against hailing a cab so she could let off some steam.

Catherine Chandler's case has been reopened. Nothing short of that could have induced her to come back to New York City. She remembered back to the day she had left, two years ago and hadn't set foot inside the city since. Chicago had been her domain during the period after that. She had found plenty of work to occupy her there, while she tried to forget. But she hadn't forgotten. For to admit the truth, she didn't want to forget and she had planned to suffer in silence for the rest of her life. But now...She pressed the thought away and began to unpack.

She looked around the loft. Things were nearly as she had left them. Perhaps it was sentimental of her but she had never fully let the loft go. She had kept it even several months after moving to Chicago. And as soon as she had known she was returning, she had called, found out it was vacant, and taken it again. She unpacked her computer and set it up in the space her old one had occupied once before. She turned it on and brought up her diary. She read her previous entry:

Oct. 27, 1997 Monday--I'm going back to where the nightmare began. Joe says they reopened Cathy's case. Don't know why. Joe was pretty cryptic over the phone so I know it's something serious. I have to go back. I made a promise to Vincent. I must keep it.

Vincent. He had to know about this. She had to tell him. Tonight.

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