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.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjul74Yqp4v
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?"593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQv9BhJEGy
LaForge held up a large plastic bag and walked over to her. Inside was her black purse.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Dz8AmdMF
"This is yours?" he asked.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbfr95Q1NN
She stifled her initial instinct to respond. She'd just spent the last few hours promising herself she would stay quiet.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlEJVdp4m6
LaForge looked at Picard. "A simple question, I would think."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSXBNbnZuk
"It's my purse," she said.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21FipzEM3I
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.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlK8L8hCte
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.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwMKkSOUyq
"So? It's a gun."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WE6RN89dc
"It's your gun," he said.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5OIqWouOP
"No, it's not. I don't own a gun. I've never seen that thing before in my life."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGH7O0SYDI
"Why do you lie to us? Admit it. Admit that this your gun."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr59SW8VEc
"Fuck you!" said Mischa. It felt good, empowering.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXSmhsOwka
He held it closer, mere inches from her face, shaking it for emphasis.593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OT1lWTPQM
She turned her head. "We've got nothing more to say to each other."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGB0dWkhRD
"Nothing more. Nothing more. I am---so sorry to hear that. I had hoped you could explain something to me."593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzU7BqwJT3
Mischa looked at him. "Yeah? What do you want explained to you?"593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtNvnEFu5F
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?"593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliSyYHk0Ml
