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 89: “There is a stairwell too for when there is no power, but tonight, I’m not feeling up to the stairs,” Morris explained.
“There is a stairwell too for when there is no power, but tonight, I’m not feeling up to the stairs,” Morris explained. James nodded. Even with the walking stick, Morris limp was becoming more pronounced the longer he stayed in motion. James suspected the only thing holding him up was determination. The elevator doors slid open soundlessly. There was no ding to announce their arrival. James wondered if it had been removed for security reasons.
The two of them stepped inside. The elevator was small and designed more for one persons use at a time. He and Morris stood almost uncomfortably close. The scent of blood snaked around the small enclosed space. It didn’t smell as fresh as it did before and James Hoped it was because Morris’ bandages were holding. He took a deep breath and took in the scent of some sort of cologne or aftershave. His lips twitched slightly, realizing it was the same scent his father used to wear.
The ride down to the garage was short and silent with neither of them speaking. James slipped behind morris and Morris, cane in one hand and gun in the other lead the way into the dark recesses of the parking garage. They were far from where Carson parked, on the opposite side of the building if James had his directions in order. They were also on a lower floor.
Morris led James to a row of cars, identical to each other except for color. They were all sedans but none were the official black he came to expect from law enforcement. Morris moved to the blue sedan nearest to them and handed James a set of keys as his eyes scanned the parking garage. There was no one in sight and except for the row of sedans there was no one around.
He still felt twitchy as he fitted the key into the lock.
James unlocked the driver’s side door and flipped the switch unlocking the other doors. He got in, Sliding behind the wheel. Morris slipped in the passenger’s side door.
“Lock the doors,” Morris told him. “Just in case.”
James nodded, locked the doors and put the key in the ignition.
“We are on a lower floor,” Morris said, and we’ll use a different exit so even if anyone is watching, we might not be seen leaving.” Again James nodded. He followed Morris’ directions, his heart pouneing each time the sedan slipped around one of the corners on it’s ay to an exit. They managed to reach a street, James wasn’t sure which, with no one seeming to notice.
“Left,” Morris told him. James turned left onto the street and drove carefully away from the building. Morris studied the mirrors and looked out of the windows. As far as James could see the street was empty. It was a Saturday evening in an area that boasted office buildings. No one seemed to feel the need to work weekends, or if they did, they had already gone home.
Driving on the street with no other cars either moving or parked along the side of the street made James feel conspicuous. His hands tightened on the wheel. Being the solidary moving thing made him feel like a target. Morris constantly searching the surrounds for those watching didn’t help.
“Take the next right,” Morris said after a time. James nodded and as they approached the corner, he turned right. Once around the corner, Morris seemed to relax.
No one appears to be following,” Morris confirmed, but I’d feel a little better with same traffic around us.”
His thoughts echoes James’ own and he felt slightly better for it.
“You did well,” Morris said.
“Thanks,” James replied.
Morris slipped his gun in the holster and leaned tiredly back against the seat. “So would you like the good news or the bad news first?” he asked. His eyes were closed.
“Let’s start with the good news,” James said. “Just for a change of pace.”
Ten til Midnight 