Luekman,
Be prepared to wait a lot longer than 24 days. Here has been my process with Trident. Feb 2007 sent out query.
March 2007, I get response from agent's assistant asking for the first three chapters.
April 2007: On April 15 I send follow up e-mail. I receive no response.
May 2007: I shoot out another follow up on May 15th. Again, I receive no response.
June 2007: I shoot out one more follow up. No response.
July 2007: I start researching other agents. THen on July 20th, the agent's assistant contacts me out of the blue saying the agent really liked the first three chapters and wants to see the full ms if I'm still seeking representation.
July 2007: I send full manuscript.
August 2007: I hear nothing.
Sept 2007: I hear nothing.
October 2007: I send a follow up e-mail. I get no response.
November 2007: I send another follow up e-mail. No response.
December 2007: I send another follow up e-mail. This time the assistant responds via telephone telling me that an intern lost the ms, so would I be willing to send another copy.
December 2007: I send in new copy of ms.
February 2008: Assistant calls telling me that the agent and she really like the ms, but it needs a little work. They really want to work with me. Said agent will be calling me in next couple of weeks to discuss.
February 2008: Agent calls me, says he really liked the ms, but it needs work. Says he'll send back the first 38 pages where he made changes, gives a couple of suggestions over the phone and says he's looking forward to seeing the revisions.
March 2008: On the 18th, I receive the 38 edited pages.
May 21, 2008: I send in the revised ms.
June 1, 2008: Agent calls with a quick question.
July 2008: I e-mail follow up. No response.
August 2008: I follow up again, and still get no response.
Sept 2008: I follow up around Labor Day, and assistant tells me that the agent has taken the ms home for the weekend, and he'll have gone through it by the end of next week.
October 2008: I e-mail again to find out status. No response. Then I decide to just use the phone. I catch his assistant off guard. I tell her that I was basically lead to believe that I really shouldn't send the ms out to any other agents. She says they appreciate how patient I've been. So I say: if the agent isn't interested in my ms anymore, could I just be notified? After all, there are other agents in the same agency I could contact, too. I'm told that my request is fair, but have heard nothing since, and we're now moving close to another month gone by. I just e-mailed again earlier this week. Again, no response.