uation.Notuntilpage24didSalanderdropthebombshellaboutthetripstoTallinn,inthesamedry-as-dusttonesheusedtoreportthathelivedinSollentunaanddroveadarkblueVolvo.Shereferredtodocumentationinanexhaustiveappendix,includingphotographsofthethirteen-year-oldgirlinthepanyofthesubject.ThepictureshadbeentakeninahotelcorridorinTallinn,andthemanhadhishandunderthegirl’ssweater.Salanderhadtrackeddownthegirlinquestionandshehadprovidedheraountontape.
ThereporthadcreatedpreciselythechaosthatArmanskyhadwantedtoavoid.Firsthehadtoswallowafewulcertabletsprescribedbyhisdoctor.Thenhecalledintheclientforasombreemergencymeeting.Finally—overtheclient’sfierceobjections—hewasforcedtoreferthematerialtothepolice.ThismeantthatMiltonSecurityriskedbeingdrawnintoatangledweb.IfSalander’sevidencecouldnotbesubstantiatedorthemanwasacquitted,thepanymightriskalibelsuit.Itwasanightmare.
However,itwasnotLisbethSalander’sastonishinglackofemotionalinvolvementthatmostupsethim.Milton’simagewasoneofconservativestability.Salanderfittedintothispictureaboutaswellasabuffaloataboatshow.Armansky’sstarresearcherwasapale,anorexicyoungwomanwhohadhairasshortasafuse,andapiercednoseandeyebrows.Shehadawasptattooaboutaninchlongonherneck,atattooedlooparoundthebicepsofherleftarmandanotheraroundherleftankle.Onthoseoasionswhenshehadbeenwearingatanktop,Armanskyalsosawthatshehadadragontattooonherleftshoulderblade.Shewasanaturalredhead,butshedyedherhairravenblack.Shelookedasthoughshehadjustemergedfromaweek-longywithagangofhardrockers.
Shedidnotinfacthaveaneatingdisorder,Armanskywassureofthat.Onthecontrary,sheseemedtoconsumeeverykindofjunkfood.Shehadsimplybeenbornthin,withslenderbonesthatmadeherlookgirlishandfine-limbedwithsmallhands,narrowwrists,andchildlikebreasts.Shewastwenty-four,butshesometimeslookedfourteen.
Shehadawidemouth,asmallnose,andhighcheekbonesthatgaveheranalmostAsianlook.Hermovementswerequickandspidery,andwhenshewasworkingattheputerherfingersflewoverthekeys.Herextremeslendernesswouldhavemadeaca