ExecuteScalar() Not Returning Value?

Okay so here's a wierd one.  I use SQLYog to peek into/administrate my databases.
I noticed that this chunk of code is not producing a value...
 Using Conn As New MySqlConnection(Settings.MySqlConnectionString)
Using Cmd As New MySqlCommand("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tbladminpermissions WHERE (PermissionFiles LIKE '%?CurrentPage%') AND Enabled=1", Conn)
With Cmd.Parameters
.Add(New MySqlParameter("?CurrentPage",thisPage))
End With
Conn.Open()
Exists = Cmd.ExecuteScalar()
End Using
End Using
 
Exists is declared outside of that block so that other logic can access it.  thisPage is a variable declared outside, as well, that contains a simple string, like 'index.aspx'. With the value set to 'index.aspx' a count of 1 should be returned, and is returned in SQLYog.
 SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tbladminpermissions WHERE (PermissionFiles LIKE '%index.aspx%') AND Enabled=1
 
This produces a value of 1, but NO value at all is returned from Cmd.ExecuteScalar().  I use this method in MANY places and don't have this problem, but here it rises out of the mist and I can't figure it out.  I have no Try/Catch blocks so any error should be evident in the yellow/red error screen, but no errors occur in the server logs on in the application itself. 
Does anybody have any ideas?