1

    heGirlwiththeDragonTattoo
    LarssonStieg
    PROLOGUE
    AFridayinNovember
    Ithappenedeveryyear,wasalmostaritual.Andthiswashiseighty-secondbirthday.When,asusual,theflowerwasdelivered,hetookoffthewrappingpaperandthenpickedupthetelephoocallDetectiveSuperintendentMorellwho,whenheretired,hadmovedtoLakeSiljaninDarna.Theywerenotonlythesameage,theyhadbeenbornonthesameday—whichwassomethingofanironyunderthecircumstances.Theoldpolicemanwassittingwithhiscoffee,waiting,expectingthecall.
    “Itarrived.”
    “Whatisitthisyear?”
    “Idon’tknowwhatkinditis.I’llhavetogetsomeootellmewhatitis.It’swhite.”
    “Noletter,Isuppose.”
    “Justtheflower.Theframeisthesamekindasstyear.Oneofthosedo-it-yourselfones.”
    “Postmark?”
    “Stockholm.”
    “Handwriting?”
    “Sameasalways,allincapitals.Upright,neatlettering.”
    Withthat,thesubjectwasexhausted,andnotanotherwordwasexchangedforalmostaminute.Theretiredpolicemanleanedbackinhiskitchenchairanddrewonhispipe.Heknewhewasnolongerexpectedtoeupwithapithymentoranysharpquestionwhichwouldshedanewlightonthecase.Thosedayshadlongsincepassed,andtheexchangebetweenthetwomenseemedlikearituattachingtoamysterywhichno-oneelseinthewholeworldhadtheleastinterestinunravelling.
    TheLatinnamewasLeptospermumrubite.Itwasapntaboutfourincheshighwithsmall,heather-likefoliageandawhiteflowerwithfivepetalsaboutoneinchacross.
    ThepntwasnativetotheAustralianbushandupnds,whereitwastobefoundamongtussocksofgrass.ThereitwascalledDesertSnohebotanistwroteinherreportthatitwasretedtotheteatreeandthatitwassometimesconfusedwithitsmoremoncousinLeptospermumscoparium,whichgrewinabundanceinNewZeand.Whatdistinguishedthem,shepointedout,wasthatrubitehadasmallnumberofmicroscopicpinkdotsatthetipsofthepetals,givingtheflowerafaintpinkishtinge.
    Rubitewasaltogetheranunpretentiousflower.Ithadnoknownmedicinalproperties,anditcouldnotinducehallucinatoryexperiences.Itwasneitheredible,norhadauseinthemanufactureofpntdyes.Ontheotherhand,theaboriginalpeopleofAustraliaregardedassacredtheregionandthefloraaroundAyersRock.
    Thebotanistsaidthatsheherselfhadneverseenonebefore,butafterconsultinghercolleaguesshewastoreportthatattemptshadbeenmadetointroducethepntatanurseryinG?teb,andthatitmight,ofcourse,becultivatedbyamateurbotanists.ItwasdifficulttogrowinSwedenbecauseitthrivedinadryclimateandhadtoremainindoorshalfoftheyear.Itwouldnotthriveincalcareoussoindithadtobewateredfrombelow.Itneededpampering.
    Thefactofitsbeingsorareafloweroughttohavemadeiteasiertotracethesourceofthisparticurspecimen,butinpracticeitwasanimpossibletask.Therewasnoregistrytolookitupin,nolicencestoexplore.Anywherefromahandfultoafewhundredenthusiastscouldhavehadaesstoseedsorpnts.AndthosecouldhavechangedhandsbetweenfriendsorbeenboughtbymailorderfromanywhereinEurope,anywhereintheAntipodes.
    ButitwasonlyoneintheseriesofmystifyingflowersthateachyeararrivedbypostonthefirstdayofNovember.Theywerealwaysbeautifundforthemostpartrareflowers,alwayspressed,mountedonwater-colourpaperinasimpleframemeasuringsixinchesbyeleveninches.
    Thestrangestoryoftheflowershadneverbeenreportedinthepress;onlyaveryfewpeopleknewofit.Thirtyyearsagotheregurarrivaloftheflowerwastheobjectofmuchscrutiny—attheNationalForensicLaboratory,amongfingerprintexperts,graphologists,criminalinvestigators,andoneortworetivesandfriendsoftherecipient.Nowtheactorsinthedramawerebutthree:theelderlybirthdayboy,theretiredpolicedetective,andthepersonwhohadpostedtheflower.Thefirsttwoatleasthadreachedsuchanagethatthegroupofinterestedpartieswouldsoonbefurtherdiminished.
    Thepolicemanwasahardenedveteran.Hewouldneverfethisfirstcase,inwhichhehadhadtotakeintocustodyaviolentandappallinglydrunkworkeratanelectricalsubstationbeforehecausedothersharm.Duringhiscareerhehadbroughtinpoachers,wifebeaters,conmen,carthieves,anddrunkdrivers.Hehaddealtwithburgrs,drugdealers,rapists,andonederangedbomber.Hehadbeeninvolvedinninemurderormansughtercases.Infiveofthesethemurdererhadcalledthepolicehimselfand,fullofremorse,confessedtohavingkilledhiswifeorbrotherorsomeotherretive.Twoothersweresolvedwithinafewdays.AnotherrequiredtheassistanceoftheNationalCriminalPoliceandtooktwoyears.
    Theninthcasewassolvedtothepolice’ssatisfaction,whichistosaythattheyknewwhothemurdererwas,butbecausetheevidencewassoinsubstantialthepublicprosecutordecidednottoproceedwiththecase.Tothedetectivesuperintendent’sdismay,thestatuteoflimitationseventuallyputanendtothematter.Butallinallhecouldlookbackonanimpressivecareer.
    Hewasanythingbutpleased.
    Forthedetective,the“CaseofthePressedFlowers”hadbeennaggingathimforyears—hisst,unsolved,andfrustratingcase.Thesituationwasdoublyabsurdbecauseafterspendingliterallythousandsofhoursbrooding,ondutyandoff,hecouldnotsaybeyonddoubtthatacrimehadindeedbeenmitted.
    Thetwomenknewthatwhoeverhadmountedtheflowerswouldhaveworngloves,thattherewouldbenofingerprintsontheframeorthegss.Theframecouldhavebeenboughtincamerashopsorstationerystorestheworldover.Therewas,quitesimply,noleadtofollow.MostoftentheparcelwaspostedinStockholm,butthreetimesfromLondon,twicefromParis,twicefromCopenhagen,oncefromMadrid,oncefromBonn,andoncefromPensaco,Florida.Thedetectivesuperintendenthadhadtolookitupinanats.
    Afterputtingdownthetelephoheeighty-two-year-oldbirthdayboysatforalongtimelookingattheprettybutmeaninglessflowerwhosenamehedidnotyetknoherehungforty-threepressedflowersintheirframes.Fourrowsoften,andoneatthebottomwithfour.Inthetoprowonewasmissingfromtheninthslot.DesertSnowwouldbenumberforty-four.
    Withoutwarninghebegantoweep.Hesurprisedhimselfwiththissuddenburstofemotionafteralmostfortyyears.
    PART1
    Incentive
    DECEMBER20–JANUARY3
    EighteenpercentofthewomeninSwedenhaveatoimebeenthreatenedbyaman.
    CHAPTER1
    Friday,December20
    Thetrialwasirretrievablyover;everythingthatcouldbesaidhadbeensaid,buthehadneverdoubtedthathewouldlose.Thewrittenverdictwashandeddownat10:00onFridaymorning,andallthatremainedwasasummingupfromthereporterswaitinginthecorridoroutsidethedistrictcourt.
    “Carl”MikaelBlomkvistsawthemthroughthedoorwayandslowedhisstep.Hehadnowishtodiscusstheverdict,butquestionswereunavoidable,andhe—ofallpeople—knewthattheyhadtobeaskedandanswered.Thisishowitistobeacriminal,hethought.Ontheothersideofthemicrophone.Hestraightenedupandtriedtosmile.Thereportersgavehimfriendly,almostembarrassedgreetings.
    “Let’ssee…Aftonbdet,Expressen,TTwireservice,TV4,and…whereareyoufrom?…ahyes,DagensNyheter.Imustbeacelebrity,”Blomkvistsaid.
    “Giveusasoundbite,KalleBlomkvist.”Itwasareporterfromoneoftheeveningpapers.
    Blomkvist,hearingthenickname,forcedhimselfasalwaysnottorollhiseyes.Once,whenhewastwenty-threeandhadjuststartedhisfirstsummerjobasajournalist,Blomkvisthadchanceduponagangwhichhadpulledofffivebankrobberiesoverthepasttwoyears.Therewasnodoubtthatitwasthesamegangineveryinstance.Theirtrademarkwastoholduptwobanksatatimewithmilitaryprecision.TheyworemasksfromDisneyWorld,soinevitablypolicelogicdubbedthemtheDonaldDuckGang.ThenewspapersrenamedthemtheBearGang,whichsoundedmoresinister,moreappropriatetothefactthatontwooasionstheyhadrecklesslyfiredwarningshotsandthreatenedcuriouspassersby.
    Theirsixthoutingwasatabankin?sterg?tndattheheightoftheholidayseason.Areporterfromthelocalradiostationhappenedtobeinthebankatthetime.Assoonastherobbersweregonehewenttoapublictelephoneanddictatedhisstoryforlivebroadcast.
    Blomkvistwasspendingseveraldayswithagirlfriendatherparents’summercabinnearKatrineholm.Exactlywhyhemadetheconnectionhecouldnotexpin,eventothepolice,butashewaslisteningtothenewsreportherememberedagroupoffourmeninasummercabinafewhundredfeetdowntheroad.Hehadseenthempyingbadmintonoutintheyard:fourblond,athletictypesinshortswiththeirshirtsoff.Theywereobviouslybodybuilders,andtherehadbeensomethingaboutthemthathadmadehimlooktwice—maybeitwasbecausethegamewasbeingpyedinbzingsunshinewithwhatherecognisedasintenselyfocusedenergy.
    Therehadbeennogoodreasontosuspectthemofbeingthebankrobbers,butneverthelesshehadgooahilloverlookingtheircabin.Itseemedempty.ItwasaboutfortyminutesbeforeaVolvodroveupandparkedintheyard.Theyoungmengotout,inahurry,andwereeachcarryingasportsbag,sotheymighthavebeendoingnothingmorethaningbackfromaswivenfromBlomkvist’sretivelydistantobservationposthecouldtellthatitwasagoodoldAK4,theriflethathadbeenhisconstantpanionfortheyearofhismilitaryservice.
    Hecalledthepoliceandthatwasthestartofathree-daysiegeofthecabin,bnketcoveragebythemedia,withBlomkvistinafront-rowseatandcollectingagratifyinglyrgefeefromaneveningpaper.ThepolicesetuptheirheadquartersinacaravaninthegardenofthecabinwhereBlomkvistwasstaying.
    ThefalloftheBearGanggavehimthestarbillingthatunchedhimasayoungjournalist.Thedownsideofhiscelebritywasthattheothereveningnewspapercouldnotresistusingtheheadline“KalleBlomkvistsolvesthecase.”Thetongue-in-cheekstorywaswrittenbyanolderfemalecolumnistandcontainedreferencestotheyoungdetectiveinAstridLindgren’ssforchildren.Tomakemattersworse,thepaperhadrunthestorywithagrainyphotographofBlomkvistwithhismouthhalfopenevenasheraisedanindexfingertopoint.
    ItmadenodifferencethatBlomkvisthadneverinlifeusedthenameCarl.Fromthatmomenton,tohisdismay,hewasnicknamedKalleBlomkvistbyhispeers—anepithetemployedwithtauntingprovocation,notunfriendlybutnotreallyfriendlyeither.InspiteofhisrespectforAstridLindgren—whosesheloved—hedetestedthenickname.Ittookhimseveralyearsandfarweightierjournalisticsuessesbeforethenicknamebegantofade,buthestillcringedifeverthenamewasusedinhishearing.
    Rightnowheachievedapcidsmileandsaidtothereporterfromtheeveningpaper:“Oheon,thinkofsomethingyourself.Youusuallydo.”
    Histonewasnotunpleasant.Theyallkneweachother,moreorless,andBlomkvist’smostviciouscriticshadnotethatmorning.Oneofthejournaliststherehadatoimeworkedwithhim.Andatapartysomeyearsagohehadnearlysueededinpickinguponeofthereporters—thewomanfromSheonTV4.
    “Youtookarealhitintheretoday,”saidtheonefromDagensNyheter,clearlyayoungpart-timer.“Howdoesitfeel?”
    Despitetheseriousnessofthesituation,neitherBlomkvistnortheolderjournalistscouldhelpsmiling.HeexchangedgnceswithTV4.Howdoesitfeel?Thehalf-wittedsportsreportershoveshismicrophoneinthefaceoftheBreathlessAthleteonthefinishingline.
    “Icanonlyregretthatthecourtdidnotetoadifferentconclusion,”hesaidabitstuffily.
    “Threemonthsingaond150,000kronordamages.That’sprettysevere,”saidShefromTV4.
    “I’llsurvive.”
    “AreyougoingtoapologisetoWennerstr?m?Shakehishand?”
    “Ithinknot.”
    “Soyoustillwouldsaythathe’sacrook?”DagensNyheter.
    ThecourthadjustruledthatBlomkvisthadlibelledanddefamedthefinancierHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Thetrialwasoverandhehadnopnstoappeal.Sowhatwouldhappenifherepeatedhiscimonthecourthousesteps?Blomkvistdecidedthathedidnotwanttofindout.
    “IthoughtIhadgoodreasontopublishthermationthatwasinmypossession.Thecourthasruledotherwise,andImustaeptthatthejudicialprocesshastakenitscourse.Thoseofusontheeditorialstaffwillhavetodiscussthejudgementbeforewedecidewhatwe’regoingtodo.Ihavenomoretoadd.”
    “Buthowdidyouetofetthatjournalistsactuallyhavetobackuptheirassertions?”ShefromTV4.Herexpressionwasneutral,butBlomkvistthoughthesawahintofdisappointedrepudiationinhereyes.
    Thereportersonsite,apartfromtheboyfromDagensNyheter,wereallveteransinthebusiness.Forthemtheanswertothatquestionwasbeyondtheconceivable.“Ihavenothingtoadd,”herepeated,butwhentheothershadaeptedthisTV4stoodhimagainstthedoorstothecourthouseandaskedherquestionsinfrontofthecamera.Shewaskinderthanhedeserved,andtherewereenoughclearanswerstosatisfyallthereportersstillstandingbehindher.Thestorywouldbeintheheadlinesbutheremindedhimselfthattheywerenotdealingwiththemediaeventoftheyearhere.Thereportershadwhattheyneededandheadedbacktotheirrespectivenewsrooms.
    Heconsideredwalking,butitwasablusteryDecemberdayandhewasalreadycoldaftertheinterview.Ashewalkeddownthecourtroomsteps,hesawWilliamBgettingoutofhiscar.Hemusthavebeensittingthereduringtheinterview.Theireyesmet,andthenBsmiled.
    “Itwasworthingdownherejusttoseeyouwiththatpaperinyourhand.”
    Blomkvistsaidnothing.BandBlomkvisthadknowneachotherforfifteenyears.Theyhadworkedtogetherascubreportersforthefinancialsectionofamorningpaper.Maybeitwasaquestionofchemistry,butthefoundationhadbeenidthereforalifelongenmity.InBlomkvist’seyes,Bhadbeenathird-ratereporterandatroublesomepersonwhoannoyedeveryonearoundhimwithcrassjokesandmadedisparagingremarksaboutthemoreexperienced,olderreporters.Heseemedtodisliketheolderfemalereportersinparticur.Theyhadtheirfirstquarrel,thenothers,andanontheantagonismturnedpersonal.
    Overtheyears,theyhadrunintoeachotherregurly,butitwasnotuntiltheteniiesthattheybecameseriousenemies.BlomkvisthadpublishedaaboutfinancialjournalismandquotedextensivelyanumberofidioticarticleswrittenbyB.Bcameacrossasapompousasswhogotmanyofhisfactsupsidedownandwrotehomagestodot-paniesthatwereonthebrinkofgoingunder.WhenthereaftertheymetbychanceinabarinS?dertheyhadallbutetoblows.Bleftjournalism,andnowheworkedinPR—foraconsiderablyhighersary—atafirmthat,tomakethingsworse,waspartofindustrialistHans-ErikWennerstr?m’ssphereofinfluence.
    TheylookedateachotherforalongmomentbeforeBlomkvistturnedonhisheendwalkedaway.ItwastypicalofBtodrivetothecourthousesimplytositthereandughathim.
    Thenumber40busbrakedtoastopinfrontofB’scarandBlomkvisthoppedontomakehisescape.HegotoffatFridhemspn,undecidedwhattodo.Hewasstillholdingthejudgementdocumentinhishand.FinallyhewalkedovertoKaféAnna,nexttothegarageentranceleadingunderneaththepolicestation.
    Halfaminuteafterhehadorderedacaffetteandasandwich,thelunchtimenewscameontheradio.ThestoryfollowedthatofasuicidebombinginJerusalemandthenewsthatthegovernmenthadappointedamissiontoinvestigatetheallegedformationofanewcartelwithintheconstructionindustry.
    JournalistMikaelBlomkvistofthemagazineMillenniumwassentencedthismorningto90daysingaolforaggravatedlibelofindustrialistHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Inanarticleearlierthisyearthatdrewattentiontotheso-calledMinosaffair,BlomkvistcimedthatWennerstr?mhadusedstatefundsintendedforindustrialinvestmentinPondforarmsdeals.Blomkvistwasalsosentencedtopay150,000SEKindamages.Inastatement,Wennerstr?m’swyerBertilCamnermarkersaidthathisclientwassatisfiedwiththejudgement.Itwasanexceptionallyoutrageouscaseoflibel,hesaid.
    Thejudgementwastwenty-sixpageslong.ItsetoutthereasonsforfindingBlomkvistguiltyonfifteencountsofaggravatedlibelofthebusinessmanHans-ErikWennerstr?dthentherewerethecourtcostsandhisownwyer’sfee.Hecouldnotbringhimselftothinkaboutalltheexpenses,buthecalcutedtoothatitmighthavebeenworse;thecourthadacquittedhimonsevenothercounts.
    Ashereadthejudgement,hefeltagrowingheavinessanddisfortinhisstomach.Thissurprisedhim.Asthetrialbeganheknewthatitwouldtakeamiracleforhimtoescapeconviction,andhehadbeereconciledtotheoute.Hesatthroughthetwodaysofthetrialsurprisinglycalm,andforelevenmoredayshewaited,withoutfeelinganythinginparticur,forthecourttofinishdeliberatingandtoeupwiththedocumenthenowheldinhishand.Itwasonlynowthataphysicaluneasewashedoverhim.
    Whenhetookabiteofhissandwich,thebreadseemedtoswellupinhismouth.Hecouldhardlyswallowitandpushedhispteaside.
    ThiswasthefirsttimethatBlomkvisthadfacedanycharge.Thejudgementwasatrifle,retivelyspeaking.Alightweightcrime.Notarmedrobbery,murder,orrapeafterall.Fromafinancialpointofview,however,itwasserious—Millenniumwasnotafgshipofthemediaworldwithunlimitedresources,themagazinebarelybrokeeven—butthejudgementdidnotspellcatastrophe.TheproblemwasthatBlomkvistwasoneofMillennium’spartowners,andatthesametime,idioticallyenough,hewasbothawriterandthemagazine’spublisher.Thedamagesof150,000kronorhewouldpayhimself,althoughthatwouldjustaboutwipeouthissavings.Themagazinewouldtakecareofthecourtcosts.Withprudentbudgetingitwouldworkout.
    Heponderedthewisdomofsellinghisapartment,thoughitwouldbreakhisheart.Attheendofthego-goeighties,duringaperiodwhenhehadasteadyjobandaprettygoodsary,hehadlookedaroundforapermanentpcetolive.Heranfromoneapartmentshowingtoanotherbeforehestumbledonanatticftof700squarefeetrightattheendofBellmansgatan.Thepreviousownerwasinthemiddleofmakingitliveablebutsuddenlygotajobatadot-panyabroad,andBlomkvistwasabletobuyitinexpensively.
    Herejectedtheoriginalinteriordesigner’ssketchesandfinishedtheworkhimself.Heputmoneyintofixingupthebathroomandthekitchenarea,butinsteadofputtinginaparquetfloorandinteriorwallstomakeitintothepnnedtwo-roomapartment,hesandedthefloor-boards,whitewashedtheroughwalls,andhidtheworstpatchesbehindtwowatercoloursbyEmanuelBernstone.Theresultwasanopenlivingspace,withthebedroomareabehindashelf,andthediningareaandthelivingroomnexttothesmallkitchenbehindacounter.TheapartmenthadtwodormerwindowsandagablewindowwithaviewoftherooftopstowardsGamStan,Stockholm’soldestsection,andthewaterofRiddarfj?rden.HehadaglimpseofwaterbytheSlussenlocksandaviewofCityHall.Todayhewouldneverbeabletoaffordsuchanapartment,andhebadlywantedtoholdontoit.
    Butthathemightlosetheapartmentwasnothingbesidethefactthatprofessionallyhehadreceivedarealsmackinthenose.Itwouldtakealongtimetorepairthedamage—ifindeeditcouldeverberepaired.
    Itwasamatteroftrust.Fortheforeseeablefuture,editorswouldhesitatetopublishastoryunderhisbyline.Hestillhadplentyoffriendsinthebusinesswhowouldaeptthathehadfallenvictimtobadluckandunusualcircumstances,buthewasneveragaingoingtobeabletomaketheslightestmistake.
    Whathurtmostwasthehumiliation.Hehadheldallthetrumpsandyethehadlosttoasemi-gangsterinanArmanisuit.Adespicablestock-marketspecutor.Ayuppiewithacelebritywyerwhosneeredhiswaythroughthewholetrial.
    HowinGod’snamehadthingsgonesowrong?
    TheWennerstr?maffairhadstartedoutwithsuchpromiseinthecockpitofathirty-seven-footM?r-30onMidsummerEveayearandahalfearlier.Itbeganbychance,allbecauseaformerjournalistcolleague,nowaPRflunkyatthecountycouncil,wantedtoimpresshisnewgirlfriend.HehadrashlyhiredaScampiforafewdaysofromanticsailingintheStockholmarchipego.Thegirlfriend,justarrivedfromHallstahammartostudyinStockholm,hadagreedtotheoutingafterputtinguptokenresistance,butonlyifhersisterandhersister’sboyfriendcouldetoo.NoneofthetriofromHallstahammarhadanysailingexperience,andunfortunatelyBlomkvist’soldcolleaguehadmoreenthusiasmthanexperience.Threedaysbeforetheysetoffhehadcalledindesperationandpersuadedhimtoeasafifthcrewmember,onewhoknewnavigation.
    Blomkvisthadnotthoughtmuchoftheproposal,buthecamearoundwhenpromisedafewdaysofrexationinthearchipegowithgoodfoodandpleasantpany.Thesepromisescametonaught,andtheexpeditionturnedintomoreofadisasterthanhecouldhaveimagined.TheyhadsailedthebeautifulbutnotverydramaticroutefromBulnd?upthroughFurusundStraitatbarely9knots,butthenewgirlfriendwasinstantlyseasick.Hersisterstartedarguingwithherboyfriend,andnoneofthemshowedtheslightestinterestinlearningtheleastlittlethingaboutsailing.ItquicklybecameclearthatBlomkvistwasexpectedtotakechargeoftheboatwhiletheothersgavehimwell-intentionedbutbasicallymeaninglessadvice.Afterthefirstnightinabayon?ngs?hewasreadytodocktheboatatFurusundandtakethebushome.Onlytheirdesperateappealspersuadedhimtostay.
    Atnoonthenextday,earlyenoughthattherewerestilfewspacesavaible,theytiedupatthevisitors’wharfonthepicturesqueisndofArholma.TheyhadthrownsomelunchtogetherandhadjustfinishedwhenBlomkvistnoticedayellowfibregssM-30glidingintothebayusingonlyitsmainsail.Theboatmadeagracefultackwhilethehelmsmanlookedforaspotatthewharf.BlomkvisttooscannedthespacearoundandsawthatthegapbetweentheirScampiandanH-boatonthestarboardsidewastheonlyslotleft.ThenarrowM-30wouldjustfit.Hestoodupinthesternandpointed;themanintheM-30raisedahandinthanksandsteeredtowardsthewharf.Alonesailorwhowasnotgoingtobotherstartinguptheengine,Blomkvistnoticed.Heheardtherattleoftheanchorchainandsecondsterthemaincamedown,whiletheskippermovedlikeascaldedcattoguidetherudderstraightfortheslotandatthesametimereadythelinefromthebow.
    Blomkvistclimbedupontherailingandheldoutahandforthepainter.ThenewarrivalmadeonestcoursecorrectionandglidedperfectlyuptothesternoftheScampi,bynowmovingveryslowly.ItwasonlyasthemantossedthepaintertoBlomkvistthattheyrecognisedeachotherandsmiledindelight.
    “Hi,Robban.Whydon’tyouuseyourenginesoyoudon’tscrapethepaintoffalltheboatsintheharbour?”
    “Hi,Micke.Ithoughttherewassomethingfamiliaraboutyou.I’dlovetousetheengineifIcouldonlygetthepieceofcrapstarted.ItdiedtwodaysagooutbyR?dl?ga.”
    Theyshookhandsacrosstherailings.
    Aernitybefore,atKungsholmenschoolintheseventies,BlomkvistandRobertLindberghadbeenfriends,evenverygoodfriends.Assooftenhappenswithschoolbuddies,thefriendshipfadedaftertheyhadgoheirseparateways.Theyhadmetmaybehalfadozentimesinthepasttwentyyears,thestonesevenoreightyearsago.Nowtheystudiedeachotherwithinterest.Lindberghadtangledhair,wastannedandhadatwo-week-oldbeard.
    Blomkvistimmediatelyfeltinmuchbetterspirits.WhenthePRguyandhissillygirlfriendwentofftodancearoundtheMidsummerpoleinfrontofthegeneralstoreontheothersideoftheisnd,hestayedbehindwithhisherringandaquavitinthecockpitoftheM-30,shootingthebreezewithhisoldschoolpal.
    Sometimethatevening,aftertheyhadgivenupthebattlewithArholma’snotoriousmosquitoesandmoveddowntothecabin,andafterquiteafewshotsofaquavit,theconversationturnedtofriendlybanteraboutethicsinthecorporateworld.LindberghadgonefromschooltotheStockholmSchoolofEconomicsandintothebankingbusiness.BlomkvisthadgraduatedfromtheStockholmSchoolofJournalismanddevotedmuchofhisprofessionallifetoexposingcorruptioninthebankingandbusinessworld.Theirtalkbegantoexplorewhatwasethicallysatisfactoryincertaingoldenparachuteagreementsduringtheniies.Lindbergeventuallyconcededtherewereoneortwoimmoralbastardsinthebusinessworld.HelookedatBlomkvistwithanexpressionthatwassuddenlyserious.
    “Whydon’tyouwriteaboutHans-ErikWennerstr?m?”
    “Ididn’tknowtherewasanythingtowriteabouthim.”
    “Dig.Dig,forGod’ssake.HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheAIAprogramme?”
    “Well,itwasasortofassistanceprogrammeintheniiestohelpindustryintheformerEasternBloountriesgetbackontheirfeet.Itwasshutdownacoupleofyearsago.It’snothingI’veeverlookedinto.”
    “TheAgencyforIndustrialAssistancewasaprojectthatwasbackedbythestateandadministeredbyrepresentativesofaboutadozenbigSwedishfirms.TheAIAobtainedgovernmentguaranteesforanumberofprojectsinitiatedinagreementwiththegovernmentsinPondandtheBaltics.TheSwedishTradeUnionConfederation,LO,alsojoinedinasaguarantorthattheworkers’movementintheEastwouldbestrengthenedaswellbyfollowingtheSwedishmodel.Intheory,itwasanassistanceprojectthatbuiltontheprincipleofofferinghelpforself-help,anditwassupposedtogivetheregimesintheEasttheopportunitytorestructuretheireconomies.Inpractice,however,itmeantthatSwedishpanieswouldgetstatesubventionsforgoinginandestablishingthemselvesaspartownersinpaniesinEasternEuropeancountries.ThatgoddammedministerintheChristianpartywasanardentadvocateoftheAIA,whichwasgoingtosetupapapermillinKrakowandprovidenewequipmentforametalsindustryinRiga,acementfactoryinTallinn,andsoon.ThefundswouldbedistributedbytheAIAboard,whichconsistedofanumberofheavyweightsfromthebankingandcorporateworld.”
    “Soitwastaxmoney?”
    “Abouthalfcamefromgovernmentcontributions,andthebanksandcorporationsputuptherest.Butitwasfarfromanidealoperation.Thebanksandindustrywerecountingonmakingasweetprofit.Otherwisetheydamnwellwouldn’thavebothered.”
    “Howmuchmoneyarewetalkingabout?”
    “Holdon,listentothis.TheAIAwasdealingprimarilywithbigSwedishfirmswhowantedtogetintotheEasternEuropeanmarket.HeavyindustrieslikeASEABrownBoveriandSkanskaConstructionandthelike.Notspecutionfirms,inotherwords.”
    “AreyoutellingmethatSkanskadoesn’tdospecution?Wasn’tittheirmanagingdirectorwhowasfiredafterheletsomeofhisboysspecuteawayhalfabillioninquickstockturnovers?AndhowabouttheirhystericalpropertydealsinLondonandOslo?”
    “Sure,thereareidiotsineverypanytheworldover,butyouknowwhatImean.Atleastthosepaniesactuallyproducesomething.ThebackboneofSwedishindustryandallthat.”
    “WheredoesWennerstr?meintothepicture?”
    “Wennerstr?misthejokerinthepack.Meaningthathe’saguywhoturnsupoutoftheblue,whohasnobackgroundwhatsoeverinheavyindustry,andwhoreallyhasnobusinessgettinginvolvedintheseprojects.Buthehasamassedacolossalfortuneonthestockmarketandhasinvestedinsolidpanies.Hecameinbythebackdoor,sotospeak.”
    Ashesatthereintheboat,BlomkvistfilledhisgsswithReimersholmsbrandyandleanedback,tryingtorememberwhatlittleheknewaboutWennerstr?m.BornupinNorrnd,whereintheseventieshesetupaninvestmentpany.HemademoneyandmovedtoStockholm,andtherehiscareertookoffintheeighties.HecreatedWennerstr?m-gruppen,theWennerstr?mGroup,whentheysetupofficesinLondonandNewYorkandthepanystartedtogetmentionedinthesamearticlesasBeijer.Hetradedstockandoptionsandlikedtomakequickdeals,andheemergedinthecelebritypressasoneofSweden’snumerousbillionaireswithacityhomeonStrandv?gen,afabuloussummervilontheisndofV?rmd?,andaneighty-two-footmotoryachtthatheboughtfromabankruptformertennisstar.Hewasabeancounter,naturally,buttheeightieswasthedecadeofthebeancountersandpropertyspecutors,andWennerstr?mhadnotmadeasignificantlybigspsh.Onthecontrary,hehadremainedsomethingofamanintheshadowsamonghispeers.HeckedJanStenbeck’sfmboyanceanddidnotspreadhimselfalloverthetabloidslikePercyBarnevik.HesaidgoodbyetorealestateandinsteadmademassiveinvestmentsintheformerEasternBloc.Whenthebubbleburstintheniiesandonemanagingdirectorafteranotherwasforcedtocashinhisgoldenparachute,Wennerstr?m’spanycameoutofitinremarkablygoodshape.“ASwedishsuessstory,”astheFinancialTimescalledit.
    “Thatwas1992,”Lindbergsaid.“Wennerstr?mcontactedAIAandsaidhewantedfunding.Hepresentedapn,seeminglybackedbyinterestsinPond,whichaimedatestablishinganindustryforthemanufactureofpackagingforfoodstuffs.”
    “Atin-canindustry,youmean.”
    “Notquite,butsomethingalongthoselines.IhavenoideawhoheknewattheAIA,buthewalkedoutwithsixtymillionkronor.”
    “Thisisstartingtogetinteresting.Letmeguess:thatwasthestanyonesawofthemoney.”
    “Wrong.”Lindberggaveaslysmilebeforehefortifiedhimselfwithafewmoresipsofbrandy.
    “Whathappenedafterthatisapieceofcssickeeping.Wennerstr?mreallydidsetupapackagingfactoryinPond,inLódz.ThepanywascalledMinos.AIAreceivedafewenthusiasticreportsduring1993,thensilence.In1994,Minos,outoftheblue,colpsed.”
    Lindbergputhisemptygssdownwithanemphaticsmack.
    “TheproblemwithAIAwasthattherewasnorealsysteminpceforreportingontheproject.Yourememberthosedays:everyonewassooptimisticwhentheBerlinWallcamedown.Democracywasgoingtobeintroduced,thethreatofnuclearwarwasover,andtheBolshevikswouldturnintoregurlittlecapitalistsovernight.ThegovernmentwantedtonaildowndemocracyintheEast.EverycapitalistwantedtojumponthebandwagonandhelpbuildthenewEurope.”
    “Ididn’tknowthatcapitalistsweresoanxioustogetinvolvedincharity.”
    “Believeme,itwasacapitalist’swetdream.RussiaandEasternEuropemaybetheworld’sbiggestuntappedmarketsafterChina.Industryhadnoproblemjoininghandswiththegovernment,especiallywhenthepanieswererequiredtoputuponlyatokeninvestment.Inall,AIAswallowedaboutthirtybillionkronorofthetaxpayers’money.Itwassupposedtoebackinfutureprofits.Formally,AIAwasthegovernment’sinitiative,buttheinfluenceofindustrywassogreatthatinactualfacttheAIAboardwasoperatingindependently.”
    “Soisthereastoryinallthis?”
    “Bepatient.Whentheprojectstartedtherewasnoproblemwithfinancing.Swedenhadn’tyetbeenhitbytheinterest-rateshock.ThegovernmentwashappytoplugAIAasoneofthebiggestSwedisheffortstopromotedemocracyintheEast.”
    “AndthiswasallundertheConservativegovernment?”
    “Don’tgetpoliticsmixedupinthis.It’salboutmoneyanditmakesnodifferenceiftheSocialDemocratsorthemoderatesappointtheministers.So,fullspeedahead.Thencametheforeign-exchangeproblems,andafterthatsomecrazyNewDemocrats—rememberthem?—startedwhiningthattherewasashortageofoversightinwhatAIAwasinto.OneoftheirhenchmenhadconfusedAIAwiththeSwedishInternationalDevelopmentAuthorityandthoughtitwasallsomedamndo-gooderprojectliketheoneinTanzania.Inthespringof1994amissionwasappointedtoinvestigate.Atthattimetherewereconcernsaboutseveralprojects,butoneofthefirsttobeinvestigatedwasMinos.”
    “AndWennerstr?mcouldn’tshowwhatthefundshadbeenusedfor.”
    “Farfromit.Heproducedanexcellentreportwhichshowedthataroundfifty-fourmillionkronorwasinvestedinMinos.ButitturnedoutthatthereweretoomanyhugeadministrativeproblemsinwhatwasleftofPondforamodernpackagingindustrytobeabletofunction.InpracticetheirfactorywasshutoutbythepetitionfromasimirGermanproject.TheGermansweredoingtheirbesttobuyuptheentireEasternBloc.”
    “Yousaidthathehadbeengivensixtymillionkronor.”
    “Exactly.Themoneyservedasaninterest-freeloan.Theidea,ofcourse,wasthatthepanieswouldpaybackpartofthemoneyoveranumberofyears.ButMinoshadgoneunderandWennerstr?mcouldnotbebmedforit.Herethestateguaranteeskickedin,andWennerstr?mwasindemnified.AllheneededtodowaspaybackthemoneythatwaslostwhenMinoswentunder,andhecouldalsoshowthathehadlostacorrespondingamountofhisownmoney.”
    “LetmeseeifIunderstandthiscorrectly.Thegovernmentsuppliedbillionsintaxmoney,anddiplomatstoopendoors.Industriesgotthemoneyandusedittoinvestinjointventuresfromwhichtheyterreapedvastprofits.Inotherwords,businessasusual.”
    “You’reacynic.Theloansweresupposedtobepaidbacktothestate.”
    “Yousaidthattheywereinterest-free.Sothatmeansthetaxpayersgotnothingatallforputtingupthecash.Wennerstr?mgotsixtymillion,andinvestedfifty-fourmillionofit.Whathappenedtotheothersixmillion?”
    “WhenitbecameclearthattheAIAprojectwasgoingtobeinvestigated,Wennerstr?msentachequeforsixmilliontoAIAforthedifference.Sothematterwassettled,legallyatleast.”
    “ItsoundsasthoughWennerstr?mfritteredawayalittlemoneyforAIA.ButparedwiththehalfbillionthatdisappearedfromSkanskaortheCEOofABB’sgoldenparachuteofmorethanabillionkronor—whichreallyupsetpeople—thisdoesn’tseemtobemuchtowriteabout,”Blomkvistsaid.“Today’sreadersareprettytiredofstoriesaboutinpetentspecutors,evenifit’swithpublicfunds.Istheremoretothestory?”
    “Itgetsbetter.”
    “HowdoyouknowallthisaboutWennerstr?m’sdealsinPond?”
    “IworkedatHandelsbankenintheniies.Guesswhowrotethereportsforthebank’srepresentativeinAIA?”
    “Aha.Tellmemore.”
    “Well,AIAgottheirreportfromWennerstr?hebanceofthemoneyhadbeenpaidback.Thatsixmillioningbackwasveryclever.”
    “Gettothepoint.”
    “But,mydearBlomkvist,thatisthepoint.AIAwassatisfiedwithWennerstr?m’sreport.Itwasaninvestmentthatwenttohell,buttherewasnocriticismofthewayithadbeenmanaged.Welookedatinvoicesandtransfersandallthedocuments.Everythingwasmeticulouslyaountedfor.Ibelievedit.Mybossbelievedit.AIAbelievedit,andthegovernmenthadnothingtosay.”
    “Where’sthehook?”
    “Thisiswherethestorygetsticklish,”Lindbergsaid,lookingsurprisinglysober.“Andsinceyou’reajournalist,thisisofftherecord.”
    “eoffit.Youcan’tsittheretellingmeallthisstuffandthensayIcan’tuseit.”
    “Icertainlycan.WhatI’vetoldyousofarisinthepublicrecord.Youcanlookupthereportifyouwant.Therestofthestory—whatIhaven’ttoldyou—youcanwriteabout,butyou’llhavetotreatmeasananonymoussource.”
    “OK,but‘offtherecord’incurrentterminologymeansthatI’vebeentoldsomethinginconfidenceandcan’twriteaboutit.”
    “Screwtheterminology.Writewhateverthehellyouwant,butI’myouranonymoussource.Areweagreed?”
    “Ofcourse,”Blomkvistsaid.
    Inhindsight,thiswasamistake.
    “Allrightthen.TheMinosstorytookpcemorethanadecadeago,justaftertheWallcamedownandtheBolsheviksstartingactinglikedecentcapitalists.IwasoneofthepeoplewhoinvestigatedWennerstr?m,andthewholetimeIthoughttherewassomethingdamnedoddabouthisstory.”
    “Whydidn’tyousaysowhenyousignedoffonhisreport?”
    “Idiscusseditwithmyboss.Buttheproblemwasthattherewasn’tanythingtopinpoint.ThedocumentswereallOK,Ihadonlytosignthereport.EverytimeI’veseenWennerstr?m’snameinthepresssincethenIthinkaboutMinos,andnotleastbecausesomeyearster,inthemid-niies,mybankwasdoingsomebusinesswithWennerstr?m.Prettybigbusiness,actually,anditdidn’tturnoutsowell.”
    “Hecheatedyou?”
    “No,nothingthatobvious.Webothmademoneyonthedeals.Itwasmorethat…Idon’tknowquitehowtoexpinit,andnowI’mtalkingaboutmyownemployer,andIdon’twanttodothat.Butwhatstruckme—thestingandoverallimpression,astheysay—wasnotpositive.Wennerstr?mispresentedinthemediaasatremendousfinancialoracle.Hethrivesonthat.It’shis‘trustcapital.’”
    “Iknowwhatyoumean.”
    “Myimpressionwasthatthemanwasallbluff.Hewasn’tevenparticurlybrightasafinancier.Infact,Ithoughthewasdamnedignorantaboutcertainsubjectsalthoughhehadsomereallysharpyoungwarriorsforadvisers.Aboveall,Ireallydidn’tcareforhimpersonally.”
    “So?”
    “AfewyearsagoIwentdowntoPondonsomeothermatter.OurgrouphaddinnerwithsomeinvestorsinLódz,andIfoundmyselfatthesametableasthemayor.WetalkedaboutthedifficultyofgettingPond’seconomyonitsfeetandallthat,andsomehoworotherImentionedtheMinosproject.Themayorlookedquiteastonishedforamoment—asifhehadneverheardofMinos.Hetoldmeitwassomecrummylittlebusinessandnothingevercameofit.Heughedandsaid—I’mquotingwordforword—thatifthatwasthebestourinvestorscouldmanage,thenSwedenwasn’tlongforthislife.Areyoufollowingme?”
    “ThatmayorofLódzisobviouslyasharpfellow,butgoon.”
    “ThenextdayIhadameetinginthemorning,buttherestofmydaywasfree.ForthehellofitIdroveouttolookattheshut-downMinosfactoryinasmalltownoutsideofLódz.ThegiantMinosfactorywasaram-shacklestructure.AcorrugatedironstoragebuildingthattheRedArmyhadbuiltinthefifties.IfoundawatchmanonthepropertywhocouldspeakalittleGermananddiscoveredthatoneofhiscousinshadworkedatMinosandwewentovertohishousenearby.Thewatchmaninterpreted.Areyouinterestedinhearingwhathehadtosay?”
    “Icanhardlywait.”
    “Minosopenedintheautumnof1992.Therewereatmostfifteenemployees,themajorityofthemoldwomen.Theirpaywasaroundonehundredfiftykronoramonth.Atfirsttherewerenomachines,sotheworkforcespenttheirtimecleaningupthepce.InearlyOctoberthreecardboardboxmachinesarrivedfromPortugal.Theywereoldandpletelyobsolete.Thescrapvaluecouldn’thavebeenmorethanafewthousandkronor.Themachinesdidwork,buttheykeptbreakingdown.Naturallytherewerenospareparts,soMinossufferedendlessstoppages.”
    “Thisisstartingtosoundlikeastory,”Blomkvistsaid.“WhatdidtheymakeatMinos?”
    “Throughout1992andhalfof1993theyproducedsimplecardboardboxesforwashingpowdersandeggcartonsandthelike.Thentheystartedmakingpaperbags.Butthefactorycouldnevergetenoughrawmaterials,sotherewasneveraquestionofmuchvolumeofproduction.”
    “Thisdoesn’tsoundlikeagiganticinvestment.”
    “Iranthenumbers.Thetotalrentmusthavebeenaround15,000kronorfortwoyears.Wagesmayhaveamountedto150,000SEKatmost—andI’mbeinggeneroushere.Costofmachinesandcostoffreight…avantodelivertheeggcartons…I’mguessing250,000.Addfeesforpermits,alittletravellingbackandforth—apparentlyonepersonfromSwedendidvisitthesiteafewtimes.Itlooksasthoughthewholeoperationranforundertwomillion.Onedayinthesummerof1993theforemancamedowntothefactoryandsaiditwasshutdown,andawhileteraHungarianlorryappearedandcarriedoffthemachinery.Bye-bye,Minos.”
    InthecourseofthetrialBlomkvisthadoftenthoughtofthatMidsummerEve.Forrgepartsoftheeveningthetoneoftheconversationmadeitfeesiftheywerebackatschool,havingafriendlyargument.Asteenagerstheyhadsharedtheburdensmontothatstageinlife.Asgrown-upstheywereeffectivelystrangers,bynowquitedifferentsortsofpeople.DuringtheirtalkBlomkvisthadthoughtthathereallycouldnotrecallwhatitwasthathadmadethemsuchfriendsatschool.HerememberedLindbergasareservedboy,incrediblyshywithgirls.Asanadulthewasasuessful…well,climberinthebankingworld.
    Herarelygotdrunk,butthatchancemeetinghadtransformedadisastroussailingtripintoapleasantevening.Andbecausetheconversationhadsomuchanechoofaschoolboytone,hedidnotatfirsttakeLindberg’sstoryaboutWennerstr?mseriously.Graduallyhisprofessionalinstinctswerearoused.Eventuallyhewaslisteningattentively,andthelogicalobjectionssurfaced.
    “Waitasecond,”hesaid.“Wennerstr?misatopnameamongmarketspecutors.He’smadehimselfabillion,hashenot?”
    “TheWennerstr?mGroupissittingonsomewhereclosetotwohundredbillion.You’regoingtoaskwhyabillionaireshouldgotothetroubleofswindlingatriflingfiftymillion.”
    “Well,putitthisway:whywouldheriskhisownandhispany’sgoodnameonsuchabtantswindle?”
    “Itwasn’tsoobviouslyaswindlegiventhattheAIAboard,thebankers,thegovernment,andParliament’sauditorsalpprovedWennerstr?m’saountingwithoutasingledissentingvote.”
    “It’sstilridiculouslysmallsumforsovastarisk.”
    “Certainly.Butjustthink:theWennerstr?mGroupisaninvestmentpanythatdealswithproperty,securities,options,foreignexchange…younameit.Wennerstr?mcontactedAIAin1992justasthebottomwasabouttodropoutofthemarket.Doyouremembertheautumnof1992?”
    “DoI?Ihadavariable-ratemortgageonmyapartmentwhentheinterestrateshotupfivehundredpercentinOctober.Iwasstuckwithnieenpercentinterestforayear.”
    “Thosewereindeedthedays,”Lindbergsaid.“Ilostabundlethatyearmyself.AndHans-ErikWennerstr?m—likeeveryotherpyerinthemarket—waswrestlingwiththesameproblem.Thepanyhadbillionstiedupinpaperofvarioustypes,butnotsomuchcash.Allofasuddentheycouldnolongerborrowanyamounttheyliked.Theusualthinginsuchasituationistounloadafewpropertiesandlickyourwounds,butin1992nobodywantedtobuyrealestate.”
    “Cash-flowproblems.”
    “Exactly.AndWennerstr?mwasn’ttheonlyone.Everybusinessman…”
    “Don’tsaybusinessman.Callthemwhatyoulike,butcallingthembusinessmenisaninsulttoaseriousprofession.”
    “Allright,everyspecutorhadcash-flowproblems.Lookatitthisway:Wennerstr?mgotsixtymillionkronor.Hepaidbacksixmil,butonlyafterthreeyears.TherealcostofMinosdidn’tetomorethantwomillion.Theinterestaloneonsixtymillionforthreeyears,that’squiteabit.Dependingonhowheinvestedthemoney,hemighthavedoubledtheAIAmoney,ormaybegrownittentimesover.Thenwe’renolongertalkingaboutcatshit.Sk?l,bytheway.”
    CHAPTER2
    Friday,December20
    DraganArmanskywasborninCroatiafifty-sixyearsago.HisfatherwasanArmenianJewfromBelorussia.HismotherwasaBosnianMuslimofGreekextraction.Shehadtakenchargeofhisupbringingandhiseducation,whichmeantthatasanadulthewaslumpedtogetherwiththatrge,heterogeneousgroupdefinedbythemediaasMuslims.TheSwedishimmigrationauthoritieshadregisteredhim,strangelyenough,asaSerb.HispassportconfirmedthathewasaSwedishcitizen,andhispassportphotographshowedasquarishface,astrongjaw,five-o’clockshadow,andgreyingtemples.Hewasoftenreferredtoas“TheArab,”althoughhedidnothaveadropofArabblood.
    HelookedalittlelikethestereotypicallocalbossinanAmericangangstermovie,butinfacthewasatalentedfinancialdirectorwhohadbegunhiscareerasajunioraountantatMiltonSecurityintheearlyseventies.ThreedecadesterhehadadvancedtoCEOandCOOofthepany.
    Hehadbeefascinatedwiththesecuritybusiness.Itwaslikewargames—toidentifythreats,developcounter-strategies,andallthetimestayonestepaheadoftheindustrialspies,bckmailersandthieves.Itbeganforhimwhenhediscoveredhowtheswindlingofaclienthadbeenacplishedthroughcreativekeeping.Hewasabletoprovewho,fromagroupofadozenpeople,wasbehindit.Hehadbeenpromotedandpyedakeyroleinthefirm’sdevelopmentandwasanexpertinfinancialfraud.FifteenyearsterhebecameCEO.HehadtransformedMiltonSecurityintooneofSweden’smostpetentandtrustedsecurityfirms.
    Thepanyhad380full-timeemployeesandanother300freencers.ItwassmallparedtoFalckorSwedishGuardService.WhenArmanskyfirstjoined,thepanywascalledJohanFredrikMilton’sGeneralSecurityAB,andithadaclientlistconsistingofshoppingcentresthatneededfloorwalkersandmuscurguards.UnderhisleadershipthefirmwasnowtheinternationallyrecognisedMiltonSecurityandhadinvestedincutting-edgetechnology.Nightwatchmenwellpasttheirprime,uniformfetishists,andmoonlightinguniversitystudentshadbeenrepcedbypeoplewithrealprofessionalskills.Armanskyhiredmatureex-policemenasoperationschiefs,politicalscientistsspecialisingininternationalterrorism,andexpertsinpersonalprotectionandindustrialespionage.Mostimportantly,hehiredthebesttelemunicationstechniciansandITexperts.ThepanymovedfromSolnatostate-of-the-artofficesnearSlussen,intheheartofStockholm.
    Bythestartoftheniies,MiltonSecuritywasequippedtoofferanewlevelofsecuritytoanexclusivegroupofclients,primarilymedium-sizedcorporationsandwell-to-doprivateindividuals—nouveau-richerockstars,stock-marketspecutors,anddot-highflyers.Apartofthepany’sactivitywasprovidingbodyguardprotectionandsecuritysolutionstoSwedishfirmsabroad,especiallyintheMiddleEast.Thisareaoftheirbusinessnowaountedfor70percentofthepany’sturnover.UnderArmansky,saleshadincreasedfromaboutfortymillionSEKannuallytoalmosttwobillion.Providingsecuritywasalucrativebusiness.
    Operationsweredividedamongthreemainareas:securityconsultations,whichconsistedofidentifyingconceivableorimaginedthreats;counter-measures,whichusuallyinvolvedtheinstaltionofsecuritycameras,burgrandfirearms,electroniclockingmechanismsandITsystems;andpersonalprotectionforprivateindividualsorpanies.Thisstmarkethadgrownforty