The Fifteen Minute Novel is a novel written fifteen minutes at a time with each week day’s section starting with the sentence from the previous day. At least it is attempting to be a novel. For now I am just aiming at one continuous story, worked on for fifteen minutes each day. Started Friday January 1st, 2021 (in case you want to search for the beginning. I can’t wait to see where it ends up. It could be good, or it could be a mess. We’ll have to see. For now, here is today’s fifteen minutes.
Day 72: James tucked his keys into his pocket and reached for the door handle of Carson’s passenger’s side door.
James tucked his keys into his pocket and reached for the door handle of Carson’s passenger’s side door. He found his hand trembling slightly. He knew he hadn’t broken protocol. The only thing he had done since arriving that could even be considered outlandish had been the purchase of the Studebaker. While Carson had griped about that even he couldn’t determine that a break in protocol.
James slid into the passenger’s seat and fastened his seatbelt. He tried not to let his brow crease in worry. He was reasonably certain that if something was amiss, he was not the cause. ‘Which means someone screwed up, I’m needed for testimony or something else happened.’
The list of what else could have happened was a short one. He imagined it involved the death of a family member. His mother was in fine health when he left, not even a blip of a concern. Still things could happen. He was unable to prevent the worry from creasing his forehead.
The drive to the office building was shorter than he remembered. ‘Either that or it feels shorter since I know where I am going,’ James thought. He in fact drove past the government building every morning on his way to work. It was now a part of his daily routine.
The car pulled into the parking garage. Carson remained silent on the drive. The radio played something classical James couldn’t identify. Nerves danced as Carson parked and the two of them exited the vehicle. Movie scenarios of shoot outs in parking garages flashed through his mind as they walked to the elevator. Most of the garage lot was empty as it was after hours on a Friday so their steps echoed through the space. James listened for the sounds of an additional set of footsteps but heard none. Against all movie scenario odds, no one jumped out to attack them in the parking garage.
‘There is always when we leave,’ James thought as he stepped onto the elevator with Carson.
The elevator rose and James was amused to find that in a strange coincidence the elevator music was a bad rendition of the classical song that had been playing in the car. It was a dark amusement, but it cut sharply though the worry. Whatever happened, there was a team of professional agents to help him deal with it.
The elevator arrived and the older agent who greeted him upon his arrival was waiting. James realized he never got his name. In fact he had been so blitzed by the experience James was surprised he even recognized the man. James had been in a fog on his last visit. Now details stood out. The lines that looked carved more from smiles rather than frowns. The intelligence of the eyes. He shook James hand as they met.
“James, thank you for coming in at this time. As Carson no doubt mentioned, we’ve had some developments.”
“What sort of developments?” James asked.
The older agent flashed a look to Carson and then looked back to James. He indicated the office. It was the same conference room where he signed his final paperwork.
Ten til Midnight 