Tom leaned back, smoothing his hair, despite the fact that it was already tastefully arranged in perfect order. “We’re still figuring it out.”

John’s gut told him that something about the film was making Melton uncomfortable. Dealing with the mess of The Final Vampire must not be a typical experience for the agent. An AD’s job was incredibly complicated even on a normal shoot. It involved managing the daily production schedule and call sheets, making sure the cast and crew made it to set on time, and confirming each department followed the safety rules. Complaints, legitimate or not, were brought to the AD first, freeing the director to oversee their vision and focus on the actors. The AD was a director’s right hand. Given the existing problems with the shoot, the director’s job would be easier than the AD’s.

“Before you ask, you don’t have the experience to direct this movie. I need someone on set I can trust—someone with a personal investment in its success. The AD is going to be more important than the director anyway. This isn’t going to be an art film. I’m more concerned about the budget and making sure there are no injuries.”

John considered the offer. If the director was competent, John could do the job. If the director was an idiot, John’s life would be incredibly difficult for four weeks. But he had survived worse. Besides, if Tom wanted this movie finished, he wasn’t going to hire someone incompetent to direct. John would earn some money, and he would get out of town for a few weeks. If he could make this vampire movie work for Tom Melton, it might give him a chance to direct when it really mattered: on his own film.

Tom’s phone rang. “I hope you have good news, Dan.”

The agent grinned, a slow, snakelike smile that made John’s blood chill. John thought of Anna washing dishes in the back of the bar, talking to the delivery guy and complaining about studio hacks who were constantly cutting budgets. How had she married a guy who could make or break careers with a phone call?

Tom hung up the phone, a smug smile on his face. “What’ll it be? If you take the job, I need you on a plane tomorrow.”

John pushed down his anxiety about making a deal with Tom Melton. This was how the movie business worked. He was going to have to compromise at some point—everyone had told him so. This might be the best and only deal he would get. A lot of things could be done in Hollywood, but making a good movie from a bad script wasn’t one of them. And Tom Melton had never been involved with a bad movie.