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.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpW1ZHX03i
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?"688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJmqBrHtbl
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aJYCuFUQq
"This is yours?" he asked.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ2xAf60FG
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnZ9g4TJZL
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjDjlZ4uLR
"It's my purse," she said.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCxbsPrwnC
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.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YHnqOvF1W
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.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KW83pdwXC
"So? It's a gun."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2aUGZoura
"It's your gun," he said.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMftdNEsWL
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqVwv1E7n9
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUq5o7MZk9
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Huqwo3rAf
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdVS1fchbb
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHzXal3DdQ
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExSpuqof9F
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbuXrgIgZM
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?"688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzqneWcAiY
