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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwJrpkyUjb
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?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjCHVL8haF
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RKA3Y6mnE
"This is yours?" he asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kj1toNVfb
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH3hWSR5A9
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgabe840yU
"It's my purse," she said.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc7fru9pBe
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo506CKsH1U
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4RDrTnY8e
"So? It's a gun."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsGkDpN3L4
"It's your gun," he said.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayQ3C9AwP7
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc5qj78rCK
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72L5Ois0zz
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjdhuLbwty
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECQHCyqKZ9
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuPAAIaRh8
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOn7ojDQqx
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPjHVhBiFx
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?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqYlnZyuea
