Thanks as always for the reviews and alerts much appreciated. One note on this chapter I had to take a bit of writer's liberty. I know as a vampire Marcel would have no need for an I.D or driver's license...why have one when you can compel?:) But I had to have something for the NCIS team to latch onto in their search so just consider it a plot device. :)

Also it's been awhile since I saw any of season one of the Originals. I thought Marcel had owned a bar or a night club but when I did a web search couldn't find any mention in his bio.

Title: The evil you know
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

As they waited Meredith stared at the artist drawing of the man in her dream. It stayed motionless on one side of the flat screen as hundreds of mug shots flew by on the other. Meri shivered and drew her light blue long sleeved sweater closer around her. She sat on the far left corner of Chris's desk; too restless to sit in her own chair. Chris sat behind her alternating between clicking the mouse or typing on the keyboard for various tasks. Meri had hoped looking at the drawing would bring back more memories. But she was just as in the dark as she had been before.

"Maybe it was just a dream."Meri stated.

"No, it wasn't."Chris argued with a shake of his head. "You think things ways most people don't. I knew it was only a matter of time before your memory came back."

Bruce took that moment to alert them that it had something to share. Chris stood and walked quickly around the desk. Meri followed standing to her partner's right.

"King."Chris called. "Bruce's got somethin'."

"Be right there."Pride acknowledged from the courtyard.

As the image came up Meri felt herself tense. Her hands formed into fists at her sides. When the picture rotated and came into focus Dwayne had joined them.

"What do we have?"Pride asked.

"Looks like a liquor license."Chris explained as he picked up the remote and hit a zoom button."Given three years ago to a Marcel Weston age thirty-three. Owner of a club in the Quarter called Toujours. And we have a drivers license from Louisiana.."

Meri was transfixed by the photo. It was the man in her nightmare she was sure of it.

"That's him."Meri stated softly. "That's the one leaning over me in the alley."

The computer beeped and Chris frowned hitting another button to clear the screen. A list of names came up.

"Well looks like Marcel has a dozen aliases."Chris said as he paged through the names.

"Can we get a real name and former address?"Pride asked.

"Oh we'll find him."Chris promised."Even if I have to flash this picture to every citizen in New Orleans."

Meri walked back towards her desk and then changed her mind and went to the kitchen. She knew what Chris had promised was true. He'd knock on every door to find this Marcel. Especially if this was their chance to getting her peace and closure.

"You alright?"Dwayne asked as they stood in the doorway to the courtyard.

"It's kinda surreal finally having a lead."Meri replied watching a light rain fall."But then he may know nothing about what happened to me."

"I believe what you saw in the dream was real, Meri."Pride stated. "We found your I.D in an alley in the quarter. We thought it had been dumped there but you could've been thee too."

"Before the cave? Kidnap me twice?"Meri asked in frustration. "That doesn't make sense."

"I promise we'll figure it out."Pride promised quietly.

"Got the bastard!"Chris exclaimed drawing his colleagues attention. "Nobody hides from Bruce."

When you got to be as old as Marcel was you learned a few things. Especially about starting over and survival. After all he'd learned everything about immortality from Klaus both the good and the bad. Klaus for all his many faults had been a good teacher. That plus living with the Original family on and off over the years Marcel had learned about cons too. So as he sat at his desk Marcel wasn't surprised to find somebody was looking for him.

The computer alert he'd set up years ago was telling him one of his aliases had been pinged. Compulsion wasn't an exact science. So many factors weighed in when you were dealing with the human mind. Marcel had taken a risk by letting Meredith go even with wiping her memory. When a person was injured especially as close to death as she had been affects every part of the body. Now Marcel had a problem he didn't want to deal with. There was no easy solution.

Well the easiest would be to leave town; lay low for awhile. Marcel shook his head as he stared at the computer screen. That wasn't an option with things as tense as they were in the Quarter. A war was coming it was just a matter was when. He couldn't take out all the Feds who were after him. More would just come looking for their missing colleagues. Marcel didn't want to reveal the supernatural community to agent Brody. However, there might not be a choice now. Marcel had a feeling he could trust Meredith. Question was how much to trust her with?

Marcel sighed, that was something he was going to have to feel out as he went. One way or another it looked like he'd be seeing Meredith Brody again. Friendships with humans were always tricky. He hoped his instincts were right on this one.

Even with retail space being at a premium in the Quarter the club that was the last known address of Marcel Gerard stood dark and vacant. Chris, Meredith and Dwayne fanned out as they reached the front entrance. Chris went around the back while Meri and Dwayne took the front. Meri was trying not to get depressed as they looked around the main floor. The odds of their being a clue left behind were fading by the second.

"Clear!"

The trio confirmed the club was abandoned and met by the center of the bar. Feeling restless Meri moved around to the back of the bar and began to search.

"Well we knew this was a long shot."Pride stated quietly his voice echoing slightly.

"We have a name and a face now. Only a matter of time."Chris commented as he waved aside a stray cobweb. "Can't believe nobody's snatched this place up."

"Lookin' for a business to invest in, LaSalle?"Meri asked as she pulled out a drawer under where the cash register would be.

"Maybe."Chris admitted. "Not going to be young forever."

"Well there's nothing back here so you'll have to buy everything."Meri commented as she slammed the drawer shut.

"Let's do a look around just to be sure and head back to the office."Pride suggested heading toward some rooms off to the side of the main entrance.

Chris hung back as Meri walked around the bar and joined him. He placed his right arm around her shoulders and Meri leaned into the one armed hug. After a moment Meri stepped away smiling briefly at her partner.

"If I haven't said it...thank you...for everything."Meri stated softly.

"What friends are for."Chris responded. "Your call...search second floor or basement?"

"Second floor."Meri said leading the way.

Meri felt truly fortunate to have Chris LaSalle in her life. Not only as a partner but as a friend. True colors of friendships always showed when times got rough. Chris had become her rock to lean on and she had a feeling she was going to need that strength in the days to come.