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.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNt7W0RMg2
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?"621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenHj11Qydu
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RReyNRO7i
"This is yours?" he asked.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAl0VUG5SW
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd4StW3d4c
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaSqekFRn6
"It's my purse," she said.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalzSjeg6Jp
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.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRnHfX9Ewk
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.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGeP9jqAeK
"So? It's a gun."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA926jrrFBB
"It's your gun," he said.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdmOxa8WlY
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIelvpQfkON
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDplbF4V9vz
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw73e7m8wo
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg2o4Rutbh
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEFR7AkwVY
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhG9crN2sU
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpm8lIcopK
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?"621Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkFWpVSza7
