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 251: ‘All offices look spooky when they’ve been abandoned for the weekend.’
‘All offices look spooky when they’ve been abandoned for the weekend.’ The elevator door dinged behind him as it closed. James jumped. Morris stepped out into the hallway.
“James, come on back,” he said. James nodded and walked through the darkened front office. The curtains were drawn over the windows so it was mostly a shadow filled space. He imagined breathing in the shadows and hurried his steps. The walk was not long but it felt as though it took him forever to cross the distance to the office door. James tried not to imagine Carson dead and Morris bleeding as he walked.
His palms were sweaty and his heard was beating fast. ‘It’s just an empty office,’ he reminded himself. ‘Get a grip.’
Morris had already stepped back into his office and James stepped through the open door. Morris was behind his desk and to his surprise, Tucker was sitting in one of the guest chairs. The agent was sprawled in the chair as though lounging and getting ready to watch some television. As the chairs looked stiff and formally uncomfortable, James thought it was a good act.
“James please take a seat,” Morris said. He sounded less stilted than he had been on the phone. Less angry. James wondered if his own guilt had caused him to imagine the tone.
“Sure,” James said. He moved to the chair. “What’s going on?”
“You look nervous,” Tucker said.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here since the shooting,” James said. James felt that at least was part of the reason for his nerves and felt less like he was lying. Tucker looked him and nodded.
“Don’t worry,” Tucker said. “They got all the blood out.”
The comment came with a half smile that mocked James. “I’m so glad,” James replied.
“Tucker,” Morris said. His voice held a note of disapproval.
Tucker turned to Morris. His smile widened and he sat up straight in his chair. “Sorry boss,” Tucker said genially. “I just don’t like it when people lie to me.”
“What did I lie about,” James said. He frowned in confusion and turned the look to Tucker.
“You know where the lovely Cassie would fly when she left,” Tucker said. “But you told me that you knew nothing.”
Ten til Midnight 