THE DOOR OPENED. It was Picard and LaForge again. Mischa didn't know how much time had passed. Her best guess was three hours, perhaps four. She was dehydrated and nauseated and completely off the scopes. She was, she assumed, just like they wanted her.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYFzzIwSxt
It was about control, after all. Manipulation. They held all the cards, Picard and LaForge, and Mischa Barton had none. None except her complete innocence, if that counted as a card. She hoped that it still did.
"I need to use the restroom and I need some water," she said.
LaForge shook his head dismissively, as if her request wasn't even in range of reasonableness. "Not until you---explain to us."
That wasn't going to happen. She'd spent the last few hours steeling herself. Don't say a word, she thought. Wait for a lawyer, no matter how long it takes. What in the hell was she doing talking to these assholes? They didn't have anything on her. They couldn't possibly.
Keep telling yourself that, thought Mischa.
"I want a lawyer," she said yet again.
"You do not have that right," said Picard.
"Do the French still have to prove people guilty? Or did you do away with that, too? Will I even get a trial?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmeBbPau6Z
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDK35DNEcA
"This is yours?" he asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSn0ZPnqC7
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokneH4hbDR
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy1RqY1Heg
"It's my purse," she said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglGRXQZFTn
LaForge, wearing a smug expression, returned to the door, where he made an exchange with someone in the hallway and returned with the second bag.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpLQAUos2g
It held a handgun. Not the one Renaud had last night; this gun was smaller. He displayed the weapon to Mischa with pride, watching her reaction. She didn't know how to react.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IxcTu6EcB
"So? It's a gun."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXbj8ORcMy
"It's your gun," he said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMDu4jL3u6
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc5qLhLqRT
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0dunnBxzb
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe2T2rbIha
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60jj51L7ew
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5V5KX1a2q
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZPiQVTYR1
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5wXpodwon
He leaned into her, a gleam in his good eye. "This gun that you say is not yours? If you would please explain to me why we found it in your purse?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU2dLQ6nEs
