Derick had an urge to go up to the car and peer inside the open window. He tried to resist, but the feeling was too strong. He carried his manuscript with him as he walked over to the car.
"You wanna get that into print?" A voice from inside the car asked, presumably the driver. The voice was male and husky, reminding Derick of the Godfather.
Derick looked down at the soaked manuscript. "Yeah, but no one wants it. Too controversial." He paused for a moment. "Can you do it?"
"No questions. Get in the car."
"Um, I don't think so." Derick backed away as he felt the manuscript get hot in his hands.
"Don't trust me?"
Derick looked at the paper now completely dry, the words not smudged with water, despite the driving rain.
"I-I-I..." Derick stammered.
"Get in." The passenger's door opened for Derick. Intrigued, Derick got in the car.
Derick found his voice as he looked at the faceless stranger. "What's this all about?"
"This, my friend, is about you getting what you want, what you deserve."
"I'm not interested in buying anything." Derick said hastily as his hand touched the door handle, ready to open the door.
The handle turned red hot, so hot that Derick had no choice but to let go. "I can get the manuscript published, for a small fee." The voice continued, as if it was never interrupted.
"Are you an agent?"
"Of sorts."
Derick flipped through his manuscript again, debating whether or not to take this stranger up on his offer. "How about it? Have we got a deal?" The voice asked.
"What's the payment?"
The man laughed heartily, hacking toward the end as if he had a few too many cigarettes. "Derick, why don't you trust me?"
Derick was silent.
"I understand that your manuscript is one about religious affairs. Tell me, do you think you portrayed God and the Devil correctly?"
"I believe so."
"So, much research went into this book?"
"Very much."
"Well, then, I believe it's worthy of a chance. That's why I'm here." The voice took on a more sinister tone.
Derick stared at his companion, unable to see his face in the darkness. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled. "Unimportant."
"I think it's important."
The man shook his head. "No, but what is important is that you trust me."