tlyashecould.“Ireallydowantyoutoworkforme.ButIalsowantyoutofeelsomesortoffriendshipandtrustinme.”
Shenodded.
“You’renotapersonwhoencouragesfriendship,”hesaid.Sheseemedtowithdraw,buthewenton.“Iunderstandthatyoudon’twantanyoneinterferinginyourlife,andI’lltrynottodothat.ButisitallrightifIcontinuetolikeyou?”
Salanderthoughtaboutitforalongtime.Thensherepliedbygettingup,walkingaroundthedesk,andgivinghimahug.Hewastotallyshocked.Onlywhenshereleasedhimdidhetakeherhand.
“Wecanbefriends?”
Shenoddedonce.
Thatwastheonlytimesheevershowedhimanytenderness,andtheonlytimesheevertouchedhim.ItwasamomentthatArmanskyfondlyremembered.
AfterfouryearsshehadstillvouchsafedhardlyadetailaboutherprivatelifeorherbackgroundtoArmansky.Onceheappliedhisownknowledgeofthepinder’sartonher.HealsohadalongtalkwithHolgerPalmgren—whodidnotseemsurprisedtoseehim—andwhathefinallyfoundoutdidnotincreasehistrustinher.Henevermentionedawordaboutthistoherorletherknowthathehadbeensnoopingintoherlife.Insteadhehidhisuneasinessandincreasedhiswatchfulness.
Beforethatstrangeeveningwasover,ArmanskyandSalanderhadetoanagreement.Infutureshewoulddoresearchprojectsforhimonafreelancebasis.Shewouldreceiveasmallmonthlyinewhethershedidanyassignmentsornot.Therealmoneywouldbemadewhenshewaspaidperassignment.Shecouldworkthewayshewantedto;inreturnshepledgednevertodoanythingthatmightembarrasshimorrisksubjectingMiltonSecuritytoscandal.
ForArmanskythiswasasolutionthatwasadvantageoustohim,thepany,andSalanderherself.HecutthetroublesomePIdepartmentdowntoasinglefull-timeemployee,anoldercolleaguewhohandledroutinejobsperfectlywellandrancreditchecks.AllplicatedortrickyassignmentsheturnedovertoSalanderandafewotherfreelancerswho—inthelastresort—wereindependentcontractorsforwhomMiltonSecurityhadactuallynoresponsibility.Sinceheregularlyengagedherservices,sheearnedagoodsalary.Itcouldhavebeenmuchhigher,butSalanderworkedonlywhenshefeltlikeit.
Armanskyaeptedherasshewas,butshewasnotallo