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 106: James quickened his steps as he moved to the driver’s side door.
James quickened his steps as he moved to the driver’s side door. Tucker seemed content to fiddle with his keys for as long as it took, but James felt a bit conspicuous. He didn’t think there were any gunmen standing on the surrounding buildings and he didn’t think anyone recognized Tucker as an agent. Still he felt twitchy all the same.
James got into the Studebaker and took his normal route to work. He knew Tucker was somewhere behind him, but remembering his instructions, he didn’t look around for him. On his drive he was especially careful of the lights. He slowed down for yellow so that he wouldn’t make it through while the following Tucker was left behind. He was also more traffic conscious, studying everything and everyone as he drove. He didn’t think he had paid this much attention to the road since passing his driver’s exam.
“And it’s not like he is going to give me a ticket,” James muttered to himself.
Even with his careful driving, James made it to the office on time. As he parked, he saw Tucker’s car drive past the lot as though going to a building further down the street. James felt a small bit of the tension inside him ease with the view. He went into the building.
Work was more or less the same as it was the week before. He spent the bulk of it at his desk, inputting files and checking numbers. He had lunch with the others in the break room and then spent the afternoon much as he had the morning. At the end of the work day, he logged out of the computer, shut down everything in the office and walked out with the others. He wished them a good night and as he got into the Studebaker, he saw Tucker’s car once again easing around the corner.
James drove straight home, still monitoring traffic, although not as hypervigilant as he had been the morning before. He reached his apartment, parked and got out of the car. A moment later Tucker pulled up beside him.
“I guess we work the same hours,” Tucker said as he exited his vehicle.
James turned to him in surprise. He hadn’t expected Tucker to talk to him directly.
“I suppose we do,” James replied.
“I’m Mike, I just moved in next door to you,” Mike said. He smiled in a friendly way.
“Oh hi, welcome to the building. I’ve only been here a few weeks myself,” James replied. “I’m James.”
“Nice to meet you.” Tucker replied. He then turned away and ducked back into his car as though retrieving something. James suspected it was to end the conversation. He locked his car and climbed the stairs. Tucker was a few steps behind him, not close enough for conversation. James ignored him and went into his apartment. He locked and bolted his door behind him and tossed his work bag onto the couch.
“I guess that was his intent to look natural,” James said. He went to the kitchen, took another frozen meal from the freezer, set it up in the microwave and went to change out of his office clothes. Once changed, he retrieved the book and notebook from his bag and set them on the kitchen table. Cassie grinned invitingly up at him from the cover. While he was certain it was a picture chosen to entice readers to buy the book. James now found the smile a little sly.
Over the course of the day, James did his best not to think about the book, Carson, any of it really. As his microwave dinged and his dinner was ferried to the table, he opened both book and notebook and prepared to delve back in while he ate. There was something there, he knew it. He just didn’t know what it was.
Ten til Midnight 