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 255: “You propose using him as bait?” Morris asked.
“You propose using him as bait?” Morris asked. It was an uncanny echo of a conversation he had with Tucker a few weeks prior. James didn’t like hearing it on Morris’ lips. He liked the contemplative look on the agent’s face even less. James began to wonder if he needed to think about running.
‘Maybe the James Monroe alias can hide both me and Cassie,’ He thought. Admittedly he would have to make it out of the office in one piece for that to even be an option. As he was the only one not carrying a gun, James thought his odds were pretty slim.
“It’s a thought,” Tucker said. His voice warmed as he realized he might have a receptive audience for his thought.
“To what end?” Morris asked.
“Excuse me?” Tucker replied. James could only see the back of his head, but he sounded confused.
“Letting others know that James is still alive would bring the people who might want to kill him out of hiding. Most of these people are hired guns who might not even know the true identity of the person or people they are working for,” Morris replied.
“It would also bring Cassie out of hiding,” Tucker pointed out.
“Not necessarily,” Morris countered. “She might think it a trap and stay wherever she is hiding. And in truth, she might not even be alive at this point.”
“Oh she’s still alive,” Tucker replied. The words sounded startled as though Tucker hadn’t meant to say them. From behind James saw Tucker’s back stiffen for a brief second before relaxing.
“You sound certain,” Morris said.
“Her body hasn’t turned up anywhere. That’s a pretty good indication she is still alive.”
“Again, not necessarily,” Morris replied. “She could have been rendered unrecognizable in death or her body hidden to confuse matters or delay events that might be triggered by her death.”
“I still think it would draw Cassie out of hiding,” Tucker said, ignoring Morris’ comments.
“As well as everyone hired to kill James,” Morris replied.
“True, but perhaps the threat of exposure might make James a bit more cooperative. I’m sure he knows something. Even if he isn’t lying then perhaps he just needs incentive to search deeper into his memory. The thought of being used for target practice might help with that. After all, even if he was kept out of the thick of things, it was still a family company and he would know things. Isn’t that why you had him go through their files?”
“So it isn’t just Cassie’s location you ae looking for?” Morris asked. “You are looking for information on Alderwood perhaps?”
In front of him Tucker went still. He hadn’t been moving much just the few habitual movements of a living breathing person. Suddenly he looked as though he was carved of stone. James had a bad feeling. He shifted in his chair, putting his feet in a better position to stand. Something told him there was a chance running might soon be his best option. He shifted his weight to the front of his feet.
Ten til Midnight 