"She must have brought the balloons along with her and planned to do that when you testified. No one would have thought twice if they found party balloons in her bag."
"How in God's name did she pee into a balloon?"
One of the security guards shrugged. "She had a funnel in her bag. Must have used it to fill the balloon."
"Sheesh," Lara said and rolled her eyes. "What a crazy family."
"I know," I said. "A violent bunch."
After we finished discussing the event with the security officers, Lara and I were able to leave. Together, we walked down the hallway to the front entrance. When we got to the front door, I saw a crowd of reporters and onlookers waiting for me.
"Is there any other exit we can take? Considering I'm covered in piss, I'd rather not face the cameras."
"Let's go out the back. I had planned on you giving a statement, but all things considered, it might be best to avoid the cameras."
"Sounds good to me." I texted John and he agreed to meet us at the side alley. Then we left and I was never so glad to be escaping out the back door of any building.
In the car on the way home, I got a text from Kate.
KATE: Are you okay? I was watching the news and there was a report that a woman threw a balloon filled with urine at you.
DRAKE: I'm wet and stinky, and my pride is hurt but otherwise I'm fine. Needless to say, Lara and I won't be going out for a drink.
KATE: I guess not! We have a bottle of champagne if you want to imbibe here. Invite her over.
DRAKE: I will.
With that, I put my cell away and turned to Lara.
"Feel like coming over to the house for a glass of champagne? Kate invited you, if you want."
"Sounds good," Lara said with a smile. "After the past couple of weeks, both of us deserve to celebrate."
I leaned back in my seat and watched the streets of Manhattan pass by, glad that the trial and my involvement in it were finally -- finally -- over.
Kate
Drake arrived back at the apartment with Lara just after four thirty in the afternoon. When he entered through the front door, he was smiling, and he and Lara had been sharing some joke. It made me happy to see that he was in good spirits despite the latest attack.
"There you are," I said and went to the front door to greet them. I turned to Drake who was removing his jacket and shirt like it was poisoned. "Forgive me if I don't kiss you."
"No need to explain," he said. "I'm going to put my clothes in a bag and get them dry cleaned. But now, I'm going to take a shower. Maybe you could get that bottle of champagne out of the cooler and pour us all a drink."
"I will," I said and grabbed a large plastic garbage bag from the kitchen pantry. I let Drake drop his clothes into it and watched while he ran upstairs in his bare chest and slacks, which had missed getting the urine treatment.
I placed the bag outside the door in the hallway, not wanting it to remain in the apartment. Then, I turned to Lara.
"How is he?"
Lara waved her hand and removed her coat. "He's strong," she said, and I took the coat from her then hung it up. Lara took my arm, leading me to the kitchen. "He'll be fine,” she said and squeezed my arm.
"Thanks for looking after him through all this."
"He's like my little brother," Lara said. "Where's Sophia?"
"She's napping right now, but she's due up any time."
"I'd love to see her."