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 109: Something inside him relaxed slightly at the sight of the agent.
Something inside him relaxed slightly at the sight of the agent. Whatever else happened, Tucker made it back in one piece. I turned back to the table and shrugged at my puzzled companion. Tucker passed behind us heading towards the back of the bar. He muttered something to himself that I didn’t catch as he passed, but Kevin/Keith heard and his confusion cleared. When Tucker was passed, he leaned in.
“Apparently he forgot his phone.”
James nodded and found himself impressed by Tucker’s performance. Tucker dipped back into the back of the bar and a moment later was heading out side once more. James’ companion reported him gone again. James nodded to him. Under the table one hand still clutched his cell phone while the rest of him tried to look casual.
When it buzzed, James nearly dropped it. Both Kevin/Keith and Mike looked at him strangely for the jump and James pulled out his phone, pretending it came from a pocket. The others smiled in understanding as he checked the screen. The message was from Tucker.
‘Outside ASAP but casually.’
James assumed that meant that his new identity as James Ferris was not in jeopardy and that next Friday there was the possibility of him returning to this bar with these people. The thought held little appeal.
‘But at least it might mean no one is trying to kill me.’
James looked up from his phone. Kevin/Keith was talking to someone else as was Mike. James tapped Mike on the shoulder. Mike looked over.
James leaned in. “I need to take off,” he said. He gestured to the door with his thumb. Mike nodded and James stood up to leave. He offered a friendly half wave to the table and a thumbs up while mouthing the word Thanks to Kevin/Keith, who saluted back.
James turned away, feeling good about his extradition and walked towards the door. Once outside, the lack of noise made him feel as though he had gone deaf. He stood just outside the door blinking as though just coming inside from the bright sun. While the light was relatively the same both in and out of the bar, it was his hearing that needed adjustment and so his eyes blinked.
‘I suppose I should wiggle my ears or something instead,’ he thought. The echoes of the bar faded and he heard the white noise of the traffic passing by on the nearby street. His feet made soft sounds on the parking lot as he walked towards his car. Tucker was nowhere in sight and James had no other direction. James reached his car. He looked around.
James saw no one. He unlocked his door. ‘Maybe he will meet me back at the apartment.’
James got into his car and started the engine.
Ten til Midnight 