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.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI30hslGIb2
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?"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf373cVYVvs
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw0Zp2Qu0a
"This is yours?" he asked.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2P3GOafaL
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KdRKBFcYX
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudhJLDtFn5
"It's my purse," she said.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4q5GLPDKm
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.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHD3LdANmv
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.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ktvBpraii
"So? It's a gun."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyplLJ39SkY
"It's your gun," he said.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuDn6fXA4s
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6amhWEOe0
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx0sThQQhY
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VNd9vlFD2
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx7rIbcIi1
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9c6lMRS8Y
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMSoJSePg7
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFhoneEWsK
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?"694Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmbO9zCb5h
