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.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx1YIwIPuZ
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?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbBDt0hRIn
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLErz5LZeU5
"This is yours?" he asked.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9YxD3AAMW
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37iPqEHxNC
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3UVE1MNPd
"It's my purse," she said.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3XbWXLXth
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.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUee5UZf6y
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.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QCXqK7OVD
"So? It's a gun."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj3Gb2yBXf
"It's your gun," he said.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QWcziwTvo
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTeYhlOOjz
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dJ65ldmgf
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdc1LLrZGy
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJxSsDouTc
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32mKmA8G4Y
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0W4kOvcU8
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOZtJfnc9x
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?"684Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGNzVIFfpS
