Shake Down the Stars by Renee Swindle Page A

shoot!” I jump—we both do—but then I think,
Freeze?
Do people still say that?
    Selwyn and I make a synchronized turn, hands raised, legs crossed at the ankles like backup singers performing a 1960s groove.
    A cop stands in front of the steps, gun pointed our way. “Okay, you two. Hands in the air. Nice and high. That’s the ticket.”
    I raise my hands even higher. I can tell the cop means business, but there’s also something only mildly intimidating about a cop who talks as if he were part of a crime noir drama. Plus, I notice that what I thought was a gun is a Taser.
    â€œYeah, that’s it. Steady now. Nice and slow.”
    He moves ninjalike on his tiptoes, his Taser raised with outstretched arms, as if at any minute Selwyn and I might pull something on him. He’s of a brown-skinned variety that makes him appear all races at once, and he’s dressed entirely in black with black combat boots and a heavy black jacket and black cap. A pencil-thin mustache floats between frog lips and a bubble nose.
    He walks up to Selwyn as if after ten years on the job he’s finally catching some action and wants to make the most of it.
    â€œStretch ’em,” he says. He kicks Selwyn’s feet apart and actually starts to frisk him.
    â€œHey, leave him alone!” I yell. “He hasn’t done anything.”
    â€œJust let him do his job,” Selwyn says as though trying to keep everyone cool.
    â€œYeah,” the wanna-be cop says, “let a man do his job.”
    He takes out Selwyn’s wallet, checks his driver’s license, and, unimpressed, returns it to his pocket. He then gives Selwyn one last pat and takes a step back. “You’re clean.”
    â€œI could’ve told you that myself.” He jerks his arm away and immediately straightens his tie as he goes about gathering back any remote traces of lost dignity. “Look, Officer. We got lost. We were on our way home from a party and got turned around.” He reaches for his back pocket.
    Seeing him make a move, the cop leaps forward. “Watch it now!” he yells.
    â€œCome on, man; you just frisked me. I’m clean, remember? I just want to give you my card.” He takes out his wallet and hands the cop a business card. “Name’s Selwyn. Selwyn Jones.”
    â€œHe works for the mayor of Livermore,” I add emphatically.
    The cop turns on his flashlight and reads the card. “So if you work for the mayor, what the hell are you doing out here?”
    â€œLike I said, we got lost, but my lady here wanted to see the telescopes. We’re having a tough night. You know how it goes.”
    I shoot him a look.
“Your lady?”
    â€œI’d like you to be.” He winks.
    â€œYou do realize we haven’t known each other for a full twenty-four hours?”
    â€œBut think of it, Kil; it’s been amazing. You just showed me Saturn. I knew there was something special about you, and I was right.”
    The cop lets out a loud whistle. “Both of you, quiet! Shut up!” He steps closer. “You two need to be more careful. Lotta nuts come out here.”
    â€œYeah,” I say, staring right at him. “What are you, anyway? You’re not a cop, are you?”
    â€œNever mind what I am. I protect this facility here, and that’s all you need to know. They have top-secret stuff in those buildings that radicals and terrorists would love to get their hands on.”
    He starts toward the steps, leaving Selwyn and me to wonder what we’re supposed to do. Once at the stairs, he pauses. “What the hell are you waiting on? When I say nuts, I’m talking about you. I want you two outta here!”
    We do as we’re told and rush over. He gives a satisfied nod, and we start down the stairs and back toward the front gate. We’re back at the entrance in no time.
    The cop unlocks the gate and waves us through. “All right, you