.Whenatlasthegotuptoslinkawayunnoticed,shesuddenlyturnedandstaredstraightathim,asthoughshehadbeenawareallthetimethathewassittingthereandhadhimonherradar.Hergazehadesosurprisinglythatitfeltlikeanattack,andhepretendednottoseeherandhurriedlyleftthecafé.Shehadnotsaidhelloeven,butshefollowedhimwithhereyes,hewassureofit,andnotuntilheturnedthecornerdidtheystopburningintohisneck.
Sherarelylaughed.ButovertimeArmanskythoughthenoticedasofteningofherattitude.Shehadadrysenseofhumour,toputitmildly,whichcouldpromptacrooked,ironicsmile.
Armanskyfeltsoprovokedbyherlackofemotionalresponsethatsometimeshewantedtograbholdofherandshakeher.Toforcehiswayintohershellandwinherfriendship,oratleastherrespect.
Onlyonce,aftershehadbeenworkingforhimforninemonths,hadhetriedtodiscussthesefeelingswithher.ItwasatMiltonSecurity’sChristmaspartyoneeveninginDecember,andforoncehewasnotsober.Nothinginappropriatehadhappened—hehadjusttriedtotellherthatheactuallylikedher.Mostofallhewantedtoexplainthathefeltprotectivetowardsher,andifsheeverneededhelpwithanything,sheshouldnothesitatetoetohim.Hehadeventriedtogiveherahug.Allinfriendliness,ofcourse.
Shehadwriggledoutofhisclumsyembraceandlefttheparty.Afterthatshehadnotappearedattheofficeoransweredhermobile.Herabsencehadfeltliketorture—almostaformofpersonalpunishment.Hehadnobodytodiscusshisfeelingswith,andforthefirsttimeherealisedwithappallingclaritywhatadestructiveholdshehadoverhim.
Threeweekslater,whenArmanskywasworkinglateoneeveninggoingovertheyear-endkeeping,Salanderreappeared.Shecameintohisofficeassilentlyasaghost,andhebecameawarethatshewasstandingintheshadowsinsidethedoorway,watchinghim.Hehadnoideahowlongshehadbeenthere.
“Wouldyoulikesomecoffee?”sheasked.Shehandedhimacupfromtheespressomachineinthecanteen.Mutelyheaeptedit,feelingbothreliefandterrorwhensheshovedthedoorclosedwithherfoot.Shesatdownoppositehisdeskandlookedhimstraightintheeye.Thensheaskedthequestioninawaythatcouldneitherbelaughedoffnoravoided.
“Dragan