Disclaimer: Sigh…Sadly, I do not own the characters of The Pretender. I in no way wish to defame any of its affiliates nor NBC or TNT. I know very little about France and have never been there. My knowledge of the French language is limited and not perfect, don't expect my phrases to be correct. I do not mean to offend anyone who is French or the French police departments. I do not know anything about Harfleur, Le Havre or the Normandy coastline, so if you go there, don't expect it to be the way I described it. I apologize to any museums in Le Havre, France, if there are any. The names Jarod Compignon, Violette Parker and Lietenant Bonfield are ficticious…sorry if it happens to be your name. My apologies to the Pez corporation.That's it. Read it now!

Summary: Clues to the past bring Ms. Parker and Jarod back together again. Very involved in IOTH, but you can understand it without having seen it. Ties up most story lines. Mostly from Ms. Parker's point of view. Chapters are short.

The Truth Is Waiting

By Bec-Bec

Chapter 17

All Secrets, No Answers

Outside the French Police Department in La Havre, France

Jarod and Ms. Parker were standing in an alley across the street from the police station, discussing what their plan was. They were trying to infiltrate the police department so that they could ask Tyrone Black questions about the scrolls and what he did for the Centre.

"Jarod, I don't know enough French, this isn't going to work."

"Parker, you'll do fine. I've done this hundreds of times before without getting caught."

"But Jarod, that's because you're a pretender, I've never done a pretend before."

"Are you scared, Parker?" Jarod half smiled to himself, knowing she would despise his remark.

Ms. Parker shot him a wicked look, "I'm not afraid of anything, Pez head, I just don't feel like being arrested for fraud in the middle of Gay Paree."

"Ms. Parker, we're not in Paris, we're in Le Havre."

"Do you always have to be so technical? Can't you just let it slip by that I have no idea what I'm talking about?"

"Well now, what fun would that be?"

"Oy, are you going to be like this during this entire endeavor?"

"I don't know," Jarod chuckled, "Are you going to be so touchy about it?"

"Shut up Chuckle Head," Ms. Parker tried to look annoyed but just ended up smiling. "Where'd you get these uniforms anyway?"

"I snatched them from the precinct the last time I was here."

"Oh, so you steal things now? How immoraly not you."

"I only steal when necessary. Are you ready or not?"

Ms. Parker sighed, "As ready as I'll ever be to face the guillotine."

"They don't use the guillotine anymore."

"Can, you just try to let my little jokes slip by? It's kind of hard to give up snide remarks when they're all you've used for the last million years."

"Parker, I know we're older than we were, but we're definitely not anywhere near being a million years old."

"This was one of the times you were supposed to let it go."

"Oh. Can we work out some sort of signal?"

Ms. Parker just laughed, "Come on let's go before I change my mind."

Ms. Parker and Jarod walked into the precinct. Ms. Parker attempted to look confidant. When she was at the Centre she could send chills down peoples spines because of the way she walked. She tried the same walk here, acting like she owned the room and everyone in it. They approached the front desk and Jarod informed the guard that they were officers sent from the district precinct in Paris. The guard inquired after their names and Jarod gave him their aliases. He was Jarod Compignon and she was Violette Parker. Violette was a pretty name, that's why she had decided to use it as her pseudonym. They had thought it was best that she stick with the last name Parker, so they wouldn't forget their covers; she'd still be Ms. Parker and he'd still be Jarod. The guard cleared them. Apparently, Jarod had hacked his way into their system and inserted the necessary information for their cover story. Originally, the cop cover was just supposed to allow them to enter the museum. Now, it would help them speak with Tyrone Black as well. They walked down a corridor and got in an elevator. They arrived at the offices on the 4th floor, or quatrième etage, as the elevator said on its panel, and were met by a Lieutenant Bonfield.

"Bonjour Monsieur Jarod, Mademoiselle Parker. Suivre moi." Lt. Bonfield said, signaling for them to follow him.

"It's a good thing he's using the worldwide language of hand gestures or I would be lost," Ms. Parker thought to herself, "I really should start studying French again." She laughed to herself, "When would I have the time? With Raines on a bloodhunt, I've got to be at the Centre practically twenty four hours a day. Unless Jarod's right and we really can change everything…Don't get your hopes up Parker, even Lab Rat isn't Superman."

She must have been making a funny face because Lt. Bonfield stopped for a moment. "Est-ce que tout vas bien, Mademoiselle Parker?" he asked if she was alright.

Ms. Parker racked her brain quickly, "Euh…Oui, pas mal." She told him she was okay.

"D'accord," he said, satisfied with her answer. They walked a bit more, turned a corner and arrived at a questioning room. "Voila! Monsieur Black es à l'intérieur," Lt. Bonfield said, informing them that Tyrone Black was inside of the questioning room waiting for them.

"Merci," Jarod answered, as Lt. Bonfield walked away.

Ms. Parker mumbled, "Merci," after him.

Jarod held the door open and Ms. Parker walked in, followed closely by Jarod. At first, Tyrone did not lift his head from the table it was resting on, then he looked up, awestruck.

"You look just like your mother," He said, then thought that she probably spoke French. "Euh…Vous ressembler…"

Ms. Parker cut him off before he could finish, "Cut the French crap. What do you know about my mother?" she said harshly. She continued quickly, before he could answer, "Do you work for the Centre? Why are you looking for the scrolls? Did that bastard, Raines, send you?"

"Parker, calm down," Jarod pulled her back because she had moved right into Tyrone's face. "Tyrone…answer her questions."

Ms. Parker smiled at the fact that Jarod was backing her questions.

"You must be Ms. Parker. And no, Raines didn't send me…I work directly for the Triumverate."

"If that's true, why the hell would you tell me?" Ms. Parker asked suspiciously.

Tyrone chuckled, "I'm sure a sweeper team is on their way here right now, what difference does it make? At least you'll get some answers."

Ms. Parker narrowed her eyes at him, "If you're a pretender, you could probably get yourself out of here right now. Wonder boy over here has gotten out of plenty more difficult situations.

"Ah, you must be Jarod," Tyrone said, turning toward Jarod, "Catherine told me about you."

"Okay, you two lab rats can bond later…now, what do you know about my mother?"

"I was one of the first ones that she helped to escape from the Centre."

"If she helped you escape, why on earth are you working for the Triumverate?Is the real world not good enough for your ungreatful ass," she asked, clearly upset that her mother would risk her life for someone who just ended up back in the Centre, but worse, the Triumverate.

"I got caught…I was young when I escaped, but old enough to not end up in foster care… still, I was too cocky."

"Is it true that you were the first pretender uncovered by the Centre?"

"Yes, I was a part of Project…"
Ms. Parker cut him off again, "…Emptiness. Yes, we know. Why are you looking for the scrolls?"

"Why do you think? A treasured prophecy that holds all of the truths about the Centre's past and future…that's invaluable to the Triumverate. If they don't get it first, someone else has all of the power…." Tyrone paused.

"The first one to the answers wins," Ms. Parker finished for him. Tyrone nodded.

In the background, a loud vibrating noise slowly got louder. A helicopter was lowering itself to the height of the window on the back wall of the questioning room. Jarod quickly grabbed Ms. Parker and threw himself and her to the ground. Tyrone didn't move fast enough and the bullets that came cascading through the glass punctured his body. The helicopter looped away and Ms. Parker slowly raised her head to see yet another source of answers plugged up by the Centre's bullets. She must have looked shocked because Jarod pulled her even closer to himself and tried to turn her head away from the body. She turned her face up to his and said sorrowfully, "Yet again, all secrets, no answers."

Author's Note: It's pronounced Cahmpeenyawn. I love it when Parker starts throwing poisonous barbs at people. I hope you loved it to. Reviews Reviews Reviews, please send me those Reviews!