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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwce7SnZJ2
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?"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D4oYM8uFL
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRjjDkJ4vm
"This is yours?" he asked.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb93GdMzdpQ
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVBCQIc4p9
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gotaWNRtr
"It's my purse," she said.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9mql80miP
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbPx2k9ouX
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE8WuadVo6
"So? It's a gun."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteAjjQqUxv
"It's your gun," he said.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqDT4l8rFT
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVi6YL1ShU
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7vxcfVTmw
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhGuyB3p72
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2l9tFU196
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT5MrE4d23
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrj2dRIUIl
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5iCxv6xLf
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?"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sF8GBq6Zy
