cedhimthatIhadalegitimatepurpose.”
“Whichiswhat?”
“AsItoldyou,Frode’semployerhiredmetodoajob.I’vereachedapointwhereIneedaskilledresearcher.Frodetoldmeaboutyouandsaidthatyouwereprettygood.Hehadn’tmeanttoidentifyyou,itjustslippedout.IexplainedtoArmanskywhatIwanted.HeOK’dthewholethingandtriedtocallyou.AndhereIam.Callhimifyouwant.”
IttookSalanderaminutetofindhermobileamongtheclothesthatMimmihadpulledoffher.Blomkvistwatchedherembarrassedsearchwithinterestashepatrolledtheapartment.Allherfurnitureseemedtobestrays.Shehadastate-of-the-artPoweronanapologyforadeskinthelivingroom.ShehadaCDplayeronashelf.HerCDcollectionwasapitifultotaloftenCDsbygroupshehadneverheardof,andthemusiciansonthecoverslookedlikevampiresfromouterspace.Musicwasprobablynotherbiginterest.
SalandersawthatArmanskyhadcalledherseventimesthenightbeforeandtwicethismorning.ShepunchedinhisnumberwhileBlomkvistleanedagainstthedoorframeandlistenedtotheconversation.
“It’sme…sorry…yes…itwasturnedoff…Iknow,hewantstohireme…no,he’sstandinginthemiddleofmyfuckinglivingroom,forChrist’ssake…”Sheraisedhervoice.“Dragan,I’mhungoverandmyheadhurts,soplease,nogames,didyouOKthisjobornot?…Thanks.”
SalanderlookedthroughthedoortothelivingroomatBlomkvistpullingoutCDsandtakingsofftheshelf.Hehadjustfoundabrownpillbottlethatwasmissingitslabel,andhewasholdingituptothelight.Hewasabouttounscrewthetop,soshereachedoutandtookthebottlefromhim.Shewentbacktothekitchenandsatdownonachair,massagingherforeheaduntilhejoinedher.
“Therulesaresimple,”shesaid.“NothingthatyoudiscusswithmeorwithArmanskywillbesharedwithanyoneatall.TherewillbeacontractwhichstatesthatMiltonSecuritypledgesconfidentiality.IwanttoknowwhatthejobisaboutbeforeIdecidewhetherIwanttoworkforyouornot.ThatalsomeansthatIagreetokeeptomyselfeverythingyoutellme,whetherItakethejobornot,providedthatyou’renotconductinganysortofseriouscriminalactivity.Inwhichcase,I’llreportittoDragan,whointurnwillreportittothepolice.”
“Fine.”Hehesitate