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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlfT9zETTj
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?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RCsZXHZYJ
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBBMeXAMJE
"This is yours?" he asked.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDqfuxunc
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuT2a7a9V4
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ57vqQZIiG
"It's my purse," she said.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMPDgISf23
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut1bS1jDR1
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.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN54UUm7QUP
"So? It's a gun."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXdUQ7hDK0
"It's your gun," he said.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgtY7mBUoj
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CXFlQeehb
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyJiXIndlP
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHIZAfSNiy
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pe0bnHLcU
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMKzNu3wOt
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWoC9L6Iij
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JLKOeQgCO
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?"589Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RCGnL2NkV
