timesoverintenyears.Latelyanewclientgrouphadarisen:affluentwomenseekingprotectionfromformerboyfriendsorhusbandsorfromstalkers.Inaddition,MiltonSecurityhadacooperativearrangementwithsimilarfirmsofgoodreputeinEuropeandtheUnitedStates.ThepanyalsohandledsecurityformanyinternationalvisitorstoSweden,includinganAmericanactresswhowasshootingafilmfortwomonthsinTrollh?ttan.Heragentfeltthatherstatuswarrantedhavingbodyguardsacpanyherwhenevershetookherinfrequentwalksnearthehotel.
Afourth,considerablysmallerareathatoupiedonlyafewemployeeswaswhatwascalledPIorP-In,ininternaljargonpinders,whichstoodforpersonalinvestigations.
Armanskywasnotaltogetherenamouredofthispartoftheirbusiness.Itwastroublesomeandlesslucrative.Itputgreaterdemandsontheemployees’judgementandexperiencethanontheirknowledgeoftelemunicationstechnologyortheinstallationofsurveillanceapparatus.Personalinvestigationswereaeptablewhenitwasamatterofcreditrmation,backgroundchecksbeforehiring,ortoinvestigatesuspicionsthatsomeemployeehadleakedpanyrmationorengagedincriminalactivity.Insuchcasesthepinderswereanintegralpartoftheoperationalactivity.Butnotinfrequentlyhisbusinessclientswoulddraginprivateproblemsthathadatendencytocreateunweleturmoil.Iwanttoknowwhatsortofcreepmydaughterisgoingoutwith…Ithinkmywifeisbeingunfaithful…TheguyisOKbuthe’smixedupwithbadpany…I’mbeingblackmailed…Armanskyoftengavethemastraightforwardno.Ifthedaughterwasanadult,shehadtherighttogooutwithanycreepshewantedto,andhethoughtinfidelitywassomethingthathusbandsandwivesoughttoworkoutontheirown.HiddeninallsuchinquiriesweretrapsthatcouldleadtoscandalandcreatelegalproblemsforMiltonSecurity.WhichwaswhyDraganArmanskykeptaclosewatchontheseassignments,inspiteofhowmodesttherevenuewas.
Themorning’stopicwasjustsuchapersonalinvestigation.Armanskystraightenedthecreaseinhistrousersbeforeheleanedbackinhisfortablechair.HeglancedsuspiciouslyathiscolleagueLisbethSalander,whowasthirty-twoyearshisjunior.Hethoughtforthethousandthtimethatnobodyseemedm