Wild Men of Alaska 03 - Dreamweaver

just out of the academy, sat on the night shift. His badge said Trooper Cooper.
    “Hi, I’m here for Siri Star.”
    “Good. The woman is driving us batty. I almost called the psych ward.”
    Gemma blanched. Not the psych ward. The last time had been rough. Lucky placed a supportive hand on her back, and knowing that she wasn’t alone in this situation felt so good that tears popped to her eyes.
    “Stop right there,” Trooper Cooper said, his voice stern but lost its effect with his baby face. “I don’t do tears.” He jumped to his feet and hurried to usher Gemma back where her mother was being held.
    Siri sat completely naked in the middle of the cell in the lotus position, her arms out to the side, thumbs and forefingers together as she hummed some incoherent mantra.
    “Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” Trooper Cooper threw up a hand to shield his eyes. “We gave her something to wear. The woman was fully dressed last time I saw her.” He shook his head as though that would help wipe Siri’s image out of his memory banks.
    There was one thing about her mother, she left an impression.
    “Mom?” Gemma walked up to the bars, her hands wrapping around the cold metal. The concrete floor had to be freezing. “Mom,” she called again, but Siri continued with her mantra. Then she abruptly stopped.
    Her eyes flew open and nailed Gemma on the spot. “You brought your Dreamweaver .”
    How did she know Lucky was here?
    Trooper Cooper unlocked the cell, holding it open for Gemma to enter, keeping his back to Siri the whole time. “Get her dressed, and I’ll speed up the paperwork.”
    “Thank you.”
    Gemma entered the cell. “Mom, we need to get you dressed.”
    “You need to get your Dreamweaver the hell away from me.”
    “Mrs. Star,” Lucky said besides Gemma. “I come in peace.”
    Siri stuck her fingers in her ears and began chanting louder.
    “Mom.” Gemma knelt on her haunches in front of Siri and put her hands on her shoulders, giving her a hard shake. If she didn’t get her to stop the trooper was bound to call in the guys with the straight jackets. “When was the last time you took your medication?”
    Siri stopped chanting and glared at Gemma. “I don’t need any medication. I’m not crazy.” She narrowed her eyes in Lucky’s direction. “And it’s Ms. Star.”
    “Right.” Gemma redirected Siri’s attention. “Then tell me why you are naked in a jail cell after being arrested for public lewdness.”
    “It’s the equinox.”
    Like that explained away everything.
    “Mom, we need to get you dressed.”
    “Not with him here.”
    See, crazy. “Shouldn’t you be more concerned that you’re naked in front of Lucky than getting dressed in front of him?”
    Siri flattened her lips in a stubborn line.
    Gemma let out a frustrated sound and got to her feet to reach for the orange inmate uniform that Siri must have shed as soon as she was left alone. But Lucky beat her to it, holding the clothes suspended behind Siri. She sent him a mental thank you and took the uniform. “Hands up,” she ordered Siri.
    Siri grumbled, but like a two-year-old, she raised her arms above her head and let Gemma yank the top down. Siri continued to mutter nonsense as Gemma pulled her to her feet and had her step into the cotton pants.
    “Why have you not heeded my warnings?” Siri asked, once fully covered. “Dreamweavers are nothing to fool around with. Your soul is at stake here, Gemini.”
    Rosie suddenly appeared, holding up a bag filled with prescription bottles. “I found her pills. She’s been stashing them in the couch cushions.” Rosie shook her head. “By my calculations, she’s been off her meds for two weeks.”
    “I’m not taking them.” Siri crossed her arms over her chest. “And you can’t make me.”
    Oh great, she was once again the parent of a middle-aged toddler. Gemma breathed a tired sigh.
    A hand massaged the muscles at the base of her neck. If she turned, she’d see nothing, but she felt Lucky silently offering support. She’d give anything to be able to lean back and let him help her take care of things. How she wanted to just sleep. Lay her head down and check out for a few days. But with Siri’s latest shenanigans, sleep was the last thing she’d be able to do.
    She’d been alone for what seemed like forever. Her dad had died when she was eight, and since that time she’d been the main decision maker. It had been up to her to make sure they’d eaten. Left