“Teto, it’s Alina.”
I can hear his voice on the phone but can’t make out his
words.
“I have someone who wants to speak with you,” she tells him. There’s a pause. “It’s…um…it’s a john.”
I reach out and take the phone from her hand.
“Teto, this is Evan Arden.”
There’s another pause, and I hear Teto clear his throat.
“Mr. Arden, I didn’t realize Alina was with you.”
I ignore what he says and get straight to the point.
“Do you have your girls tested?”
“Of course I do!”
“When was the last time Alina was tested?”
Alina narrows her eyes at me.
“Mr. Arden, if you think you got something from one of my—”
I cut him off.
“I’m just checking up on her, not myself.”
“They’re all tested monthly.”
“And her last test?”
“About a week ago.”
I pull the phone away a bit and look at Alina’s eyes.
“When was the last time you were tested?”
“It was a week ago yesterday,” she says. She bites hard on her lip and her eyes fill with panic. “I’m clean, Evan—I swear I am.”
She has obviously gotten the wrong impression. I give her half a smile and a wink to reassure her. She seems to understand, and sits back a little against the pillow, listening to one side on the conversation.
“And she’s clean?”
“Completely, Mr. Arden. I can even provide you with a copy of the tests if you like.”
“Not necessary.” I hear him sigh into the phone, and I decide to get to the point. “How much do you want for her?”
Teto pauses again and then rattles off the hourly rate I’m already paying for her.
“I’m interested in a purchase,” I say to clarify, “not a rental.”
“What?” Alina touches my arm, but I shake her off. “Evan, what are you doing?”
I shrug her off and listen to Teto’s breathing on the other end of the line. There’s a long pause before he responds.