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 73: It was the same conference room where he signed his final paperwork.
It was the same conference room where he signed his final paperwork. James settled himself in the same chair he occupied a little over a week ago and felt his nerves jumping.
“Relax,” the older man said as he too settled into the same chair. Carson settled a little further down the table, present, but clearly not leading the discussion.
“Something happened?” James began stating the obvious.
“Yes,” He took a deep breath. “You are a witness against Frank Daniels. He is, as I am sure you are aware, a small fish in a very big network of much larger fish. Earlier today he was offered a deal. He would testify against those he worked for immunity and a new life.”
“Sort of what I was given,” James said.
“Except that he is a rat and you were just a witness in the wrong place at the wrong time, yes, it is the same deal.”
“So the guy who killed the old man goes free?” James asked.
“I’m afraid that is how it works sometimes,” the agent said.
James frowned but more personal and immediate concerns filtered in. “What happens to me?” he asked. He felt a little guilty for asking since it was clear there would be no justice for the man who helped him out on a cold rainy night, but he had to know.
“For now, this changes nothing. One of the reasons he is willing to flip on his boss is because we have you. We keep you safe, he testifies.”
“So I’m a threat?”
“More or less. Because of that you will continue as you have here and settle in. At this point you will only need to testify if Frank goes back on his deal.”
“So I wait until he testifies as a threat, staying safe,” James repeated. “What happens after he testifies?”
“Well if he testifies then there is the possibility that your involvement will never be known. You as witness will not be mentioned and you won’t have to take the stand. If that happens, your name will be stricken from the records, your testimony in the files but of no relevance to anyone. Depending on how it shakes out, there is the possibility that you could go back to your former life. For now that is a dim possibility,” the man cautioned. “I just wanted to keep you informed.”
“I see,” James said. He wondered if he was being informed because he was an innocent witness or if there was some sort of reasoning behind telling him.
“You seem to be settling in well,” the agent said.
“I am,” James replied slowly. “It seems like this isn’t the sort of information you should give me.”
“Oh?” the man lifted an eyebrow in what was clearly feigned surprise.
“It seems like something you would let play out and then tell me when it was done. You know, after Frank testified and my name was stricken from the records. Until then it seems like this is something that you might want to keep to yourself.”
The man leaned back in his chair and studied James. “Normally it would be,” he admitted.
“But?” James asked.
“Your family is causing…complications.”
Ten til Midnight 