heGirlwiththeDragonTattoo
LarssonStieg
PROLOGUE
AFridayinNovember
Ithappenedeveryyear,wasalmostaritual.Andthiswashiseighty-sedbirthday.When,asusual,theflowerwasdelivered,hetookofftheingpaperandthenpickedupthetelephoocallDetectiveSuperinteMorellwho,wheired,hadmovedtoLakeSiljaninDarna.Theywerenotonlythesameage,theyhadbeenbornonthesameday—whichwassomethingofanironyuhecircumstaheoldpoliwassittingwithhiscoffee,waiting,expegthecall.
“Itarrived.”
“Whatisitthisyear?”
“Idon’tknowwhatkinditis.I’llhavetogetsomeootellmewhatitis.It’swhite.”
“er,Isuppose.”
“Justtheflower.Theframeisthesamekindasstyear.Ohosedo-it-yourselfones.”
“Postmark?”
“Sto.”
“Handwriting?”
“Sameasalways,allincapitals.Upright,lettering.”
Withthat,thesubjectwasexhausted,andnotanotherwordwasexgedforalmostamiheretiredpolileanedbahiskitchairanddrewonhispipe.Heknewhewasnolongerexpectedtoeupithymentoranysharpquestionwhichwouldshedanewlightonthecase.Thosedayshadlongsincepassed,andtheexgebetweewomenseemedlikearituattagtoamysterywhio-oneelseinthewholeworldhadtheleastiinunravelling.
TheLatinnametospermumrubite.Itntaboutfourincheshighwithsmall,heather-likefoliageandawhiteflowerwithfivepetalsaboutoneinchacross.
ThepntwasnativetotheAustralianbushandupnds,whereitwastobefoundamongtussocksofgrass.ThereitwascalledDesertSanistwroteinherreportthatitwasretedtotheteatreeandthatitwassometimesfusedwithitsmoremoncousiospermumscoparium,whichgrewinabundanewZeand.Whatdistinguishedthem,shepoi,wasthatrubitehadasmallnumberofmicroscopikdotsatthetipsofthepetals,givingtheflowerafaintpinkishtinge.
Rubitewasaltogetheranuiousflower.Ithadnoknownmedialproperties,anditcouldnotinducehalluatoryexperiewasheredible,norhadauseinthemanufactureofpntdyes.Oherhand,theabinalpeopleofAustraliaregardedassacredtheregionandthefloraaroundAyersRock.
Thebotanistsaidthatsheherselfhadneverseenonebefore,butaftersultinghercolleaguesshewastoreportthatattemptshadbeeointroducethepntatanurseryinG?teb,andthatitmight,ofcourse,becultivatedbyamateurbotanists.ItwasdifficulttogrowinSwedenbecauseitthrivedinadryclimateandhadtoremainindoorshalfoftheyear.Itwouldnotthriveincalcareoussoindithadtobewateredfrombelow.Itneededpampering.
Thefactofitsbeingsorareaflhttohavemadeiteasiertotracethesourceofthisparticurspe,butinpracticeitossibletask.Therewasrytolookitupin,nolicestoexplore.Anywherefromahandfultoafewhuhusiastscouldhavehadaesstoseedsorpnts.AndthosecouldhavegedhaweenfriendsorbeenboughtbymailorderfromanywhereinEurope,anywhereiipodes.
ButitwasonlyoheseriesofmystifyingflowersthateachyeararrivedbypostonthefirstdayofNovember.Theywerealwaysbeautifundforthemostpartrareflowers,alressed,mountedonwater-colourpaperinasimpleframemeasuringsixinchesbyeleveninches.
Thestraoryoftheflowershadneverbeeedinthepress;onlyaveryfewpeopleknewofit.Thirtyyearsagurarrivaloftheflowerwastheobjeuchscrutiny—attheNationalForensicLaboratory,amongfingerprintexperts,graphologists,criminaliigators,aworetivesandfriendsoftherecipient.Nowtheactorsinthedramawerebutthree:theelderlybirthdayboy,theretiredpolicedetective,andthepersonostedtheflower.Thefirsttwoatleasthadreachedsuagethatthegroupofiedpartieswouldsooherdiminished.
Thepoliwasahardeeran.Hewouldhisfirstcase,inwhichhehadhadtotakeintocustodyaviolentandappallinglydrunkworkerataricalsubstationbeforehecausedothersharm.Duringhiscareerhehadbroughtinpoachers,wifebeaters,en,carthieves,anddrunkdrivers.Hehaddealtwithburgrs,drugdealers,rapists,andonederangedbomber.Hehadbeeninvolvedinninemurderormansughtercases.Ihesethemurdererhadcalledthepolicehimselfand,fullofremorse,fessedtohavingkilledhiswifeorbrotherorsomeotherretive.Twoothersweresolvedwithinafewdays.AnotherrequiredtheassistaheNationalCriminalPolidtooktwoyears.
Theninthcasewassolvedtothepolice’ssatisfa,whichistosaythattheyknewwhothemurdererwas,butbecausetheevidencewassoinsubstantialthepublicprosecutordecidednottoproceedwiththecase.Tothedetectivesuperinte’sdismay,thestatuteoflimitatiouallyputaothematter.Butallinallhecouldlookbaanimpressivecareer.
Hewasanythingbutpleased.
Forthedetective,the“CaseofthePressedFlowers”hadbeennaggingathimforyears—hisst,unsolved,andfrustratingcase.Thesituationwasdoublyabsurdbecauseafterspendingliterallythousandsofhoursbrooding,ondutyandoff,hecouldnotsaybeyonddoubtthatacrimehadindeedbeenmitted.
Thetwomehatwhoeverhadmouheflowerswouldhavewloves,thattherewouldbenofingerprintsontheframess.Theframecouldhavebeenboughtincamerashopsorstatioorestheworldover.Therewas,quitesimply,ofollow.MostoftentheparcelostedinSto,butthreetimesfromLondon,twiParis,twihagen,onadrid,onBonn,andonPensaco,Florida.Thedetectivesuperintehadhadtolookitupinanats.
Afterputtingdowelephoheeighty-two-year-oldbirthdayboysatforalongtimelookingattheprettybutmeaninglessflowerwhosenamehedidknoherehungforty-threepressedflowersintheirframes.Fourrowsoften,ahebottomwithfour.Ioprowonewasmissingfromtheninthslot.DesertSnowwouldbenumberforty-four.
Withoutwarninghebegantoweep.Hesurprisedhimselfwiththissuddenburstofemotionafteralmostfortyyears.
PART1
Iive
DECEMBER20–JANUARY3
EighteenpertofthewomeninSwedeoimebeeenedbyaman.
CHAPTER1
Friday,December20
Thetrialwasirretrievablyover;everythingthatcouldbesaidhadbeensaid,buthehadneverdoubtedthathewouldlose.Thewrittenverdictwashandeddownat10:00onFridaym,andallthatremainedwasasummingupfromthereporterswaitinginthecorridoroutsidethedistrictcourt.
“Carl”MikaelBlomkvistsawthemthroughthedoorwayandslowedhisstep.Hehadnowishtodiscusstheverdict,butquestionswereunavoidable,andhe—ofallpeople—khattheyhadtobeaskedandanswered.Thisishowitistobeacriminal,hethought.Ohersideofthemicrophoraightenedupandtriedtosmile.Therepavehimfriendly,almostembarrassedgreetings.
“Let’ssee…Afto,Expressen,TTwireservice,TV4,and…whereareyoufrom?…ahyes,Dagenser.Imustbeacelebrity,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Giveusasoundbite,KalleBlomkvist.”Itorterfromoheeveningpapers.
Blomkvist,hearingtheniame,forcedhimselfasalwaysnottorollhiseyes.Once,whewenty-threeandhadjuststartedhisfirstsummerjobasajournalist,Blomkvisthadceduponagangwhichhadpulledofffivebankrobberiesoverthepasttwoyears.Therewasnodoubtthatitwasthesamegangineveryinstaheirtrademarkwastoholduptwobanksatatimewithmilitaryprecision.TheyworemasksfromDisneyWorld,soiablypolicelogicdubbedthemtheDonaldDug.TheneersrehemtheBearGang,whichsoundedmoresinister,moreappropriatetothefactthatontwooasionstheyhadrecklesslyfiredwarningshotsandthreatenedcuriouspassersby.
Theirsixthoutingwasatabankindattheheightoftheholidayseasoerfromthelocalradiostationhappeobeinthebankatthetime.Assoonastherobbersweregotoapublictelephoneanddictatedhisstoryforlivebroadcast.
Blomkvistendingseveraldayswithagirlfriendatherparents’summernearKatrineholm.Exactlywhyhemadetheehecouldnotexpihepolice,butashewaslisteningtothenewsreportherememberedagroupoffourmeninasummerafewhundredfeetdowntheroad.Hehadseenthempyingbadmintonoutintheyard:fourblond,athletictypesinshortswiththeirshirtsoff.Theywereobviouslybodybuilders,andtherehadbeehingaboutthemthathadmadehimlooktwice—maybeitwasbecausethegamewasbeingpyedinbzingsunshihwhathereisedasintenselyfocusedenergy.
Therehadbeennogoodreasontosuspectthemofbeingthebankrobbers,buthelesshehadgooahilloverlookingtheir.Itseemedempty.ItwasaboutfortyminutesbeforeaVolvodroveupandparkedintheyard.Theyouout,inahurry,andwereeachcarryingasportsbag,sotheymighthavebeendoingnothingmorethaningbaaswivenfromBlomkvist’sretivelydistantobservationposthecouldtellthatitwasagoodoldAK4,theriflethathadbeenhisstantpanionfortheyearofhismilitaryservice.
Hecalledthepolidthatwasthestartofathree-daysiegeofthe,bcebythemedia,withBlomkvistinafront-rowseatandcollegagratifyinglyrgefeefromaneveningpaper.ThepolicesetuptheirheadquartersinacaravaninthegardenofthewhereBlomkvistwasstaying.
ThefalloftheBearGanggavehimthestarbillingthatunchedhimasayoungjournalist.Thedownsideofhiscelebritywasthattheothereveningneercouldusingtheheadline“KalleBlomkvistsolvesthecase.”Thetongue-iorywaswrittenbyanolderfemalenistandtainedrefereheyouiveinAstridLindgren’ssforchildren.Tomakemattersworse,thepaperhadruorywithagrainyphotographofBlomkvistwithhismouthhalfopenevenasheraisedanindexfiopoint.
ItmadenodiffereBlomkvisthadneverinlifeusedthenameCarl.Fromthatmomenton,tohisdismay,hewasniamedKalleBlomkvistbyhispeers—ahetemployedwithtauntingprovocation,notunfriendlybutnotreallyfrieher.InspiteofhisrespectforAstridLindgren—whosesheloved—hedetestedtheniame.Ittookhimseveralyearsandfarweightierjournalisticsuessesbeforetheniamebegantofade,buthestillgedifeverthenamewasusedinhishearing.
Rightnowheachievedapcidsmileandsaidtothereporterfromtheeveningpaper:“Oheon,thinkofsomethingyourself.Youusuallydo.”
Histonewasnotunpleasant.Theyallkneweachother,moreorless,andBlomkvist’smostviciouscriticshadm.Ohejournaliststherehadatoimeworkedwithhim.Andatapartysomeyearsagohehadnearlysueededinpigupohereporters—thewomanfromSheonTV4.
“Youtookarealhitioday,”saidtheonefromDagenser,clearlyayoungpart-timer.“Howdoesitfeel?”
DespitetheseriousnessofthesituatioherBlomkvistnortheolderjournalistscouldhelpsmiling.HeexgedghTV4.Howdoesitfeel?Thehalf-wittedsportsreportershoveshismicrophohefaceoftheBreathlessAthleteonthefinishingline.
“Ilyregretthatthecourtdidoadifferentclusion,”hesaidabitstuffily.
“Threemonthsingaond150,000kronordamages.That’sprettysevere,”saidShefromTV4.
“I’llsurvive.”
“AreyougoingtoapologisetoWer?m?Shakehishand?”
“Ithinknot.”
“Soyoustillwouldsaythathe’sacrook?”Dagenser.
ThecourthadjustruledthatBlomkvisthadlibelledanddefamedthefinancierHans-ErikWer?m.Thetrialwasoverandhehadnopnstoappeal.Sowhatwouldhappenifherepeatedhisthecourthousesteps?Blomkvistdecidedthathedidnotwanttofindout.
“IthoughtIhadgoodreasontopublishthermationthatwasinmypossession.Thecourthasruledotherwise,andImustaeptthatthejudicialprocesshastakenitscourse.Thoseofusoorialstaffwillhavetodiscussthejudgementbeforewedecidewhatwe’regoingtodo.Ihavenomoretoadd.”
“Buthowdidyouetofetthatjournalistsactuallyhavetobackuptheirassertions?”ShefromTV4.Herexpressionwasral,butBlomkvistthoughthesawahintofdisappointedrepudiationinhereyes.
Thereportersonsite,apartfromtheboyfromDagenser,wereallveteransinthebusiness.Forthemtheahatquestionwasbeyondtheceivable.“Ihavenothingtoadd,”herepeated,butwhehershadaeptedthisTV4stoodhimagainstthedoorstothecourthouseandaskedherquestionsinfrontofthecamera.Shewaskihanhedeserved,andtherewereenoughclearaosatisfyallthereportersstillstandingbehihestorywouldbeintheheadliheremindedhimselfthattheywerenotdealingwiththemediaeventoftheyearhere.Thereportershadwhattheyneededandheadedbacktotheirrespectivenewsrooms.
Hesideredwalking,butitwasablusteryDecemberdayandhewasalreadycoldaftertheinterview.Ashewalkeddownthecourtroomsteps,hesawWilliamBgettingoutofhiscar.Hemusthavebeensittingtheredurierview.Theireyesmet,andthenBsmiled.
“Itwasworthingdowtoseeyouwiththatpaperinyourhand.”
Blomkvistsaidnothing.BandBlomkvisthadknowneachotherforfifteenyears.Theyhadworkedtogetherascubreportersforthefinancialseofampaper.Maybeitwasaquestionofchemistry,butthefoundationhadbeenidthereforalifeloy.InBlomkvist’seyes,Bhadbeenathird-ratereporterandatroublesomepersonwhoannoyedeveryonearoundhimwithcrassjokesandmadedisparagingremarksaboutthemoreexperienced,olderreporters.Heseemedtodisliketheolderfemalereportersinparticur.Theyhadtheirfirstquarrel,thenothers,andanoagonismturnedpersonal.
Overtheyears,theyhadrunintoeachurly,butitwasnotuntilthetehattheybecameseriousenemies.BlomkvisthadpublishedaaboutfinancialjournalismandquotedextensivelyanumberofidioticarticleswrittenbyB.Bcameacrossasapompousasswhogotmanyofhisfactsupsidedownandwrotehomagestodot-pahatwereonthebrinkofgoingunder.Whenthereaftertheymetbyabariheyhadallbutetoblows.Bleftjournalism,andnowheworkedinPR—forasiderablyhighersary—atafirmthat,tomakethingsworse,artofindustrialistHans-ErikWer?m’ssphereofinfluence.
TheylookedateachotherforalongmomentbeforeBlomkvistturnedonhisheendwalkedaway.IticalofBtodrivetothecourthousesimplytositthereandughathim.
Thenumber40busbrakedtoastopinfrontofB’sdBlomkvisthoppedontomakehisescape.HegotoffatFridhemspn,undecidedwhattodo.Hewasstillholdingthejudgementdotinhishand.FinallyhewalkedovertoKaféAnothegarageentranceleadingunderhepolicestation.
Halfamierhehadorderedacaffetteandasandwich,thelunchtimenewscameontheradio.ThestoryfollowedthatofasuicidebombinginJerusalemandthehatthegoverhadappointedamissiontoiigatetheallegedformationofanewcartelwithinthestruindustry.
JournalistMikaelBlomkvistofthemagazineMillenniumwassentehismto90daysingaravatedlibelofindustrialistHans-ErikWer?m.Inanarticleearlierthisyearthatdrewattentiontotheso-calledMinosaffair,BlomkvistcimedthatWer?mhadusedstatefundsintendedforindustrialimentinPondforarmsdeals.Blomkvistwasalsosenteopay150,000SEKindamages.Inastatement,Wer?m’swyerBertilermarkersaidthathistwassatisfiedwiththejudgement.Itwasaionallyeouscaseoflibel,hesaid.
Thejudgementwastwenty-sixpageslong.ItsetoutthereasonsforfindingBlomkvistguiltyonfifteentsofaggravatedlibelofthebusinessmanHans-ErikWer?dthentherewerethecourtcostsandhisownwyer’sfee.Hecouldnhimselftothinkaboutalltheexpenses,buthecalcutedtoothatitmighthavebeenworse;thecourthadacquittedhimoherts.
Ashereadthejudgemeagrowingheavinessanddisfortinhisstomach.Thissurprisedhim.Asthetrialbeganhekhatitwouldtakeamiratoescapevi,andhehadbeereciledtotheoute.Hesatthroughthetwodaysofthetrialsurprisinglycalm,andforelevenmoredayshewaited,withoutfeelinganythinginparticur,forthecourttofinishdeliberatingandtoeupwiththedothenowheldinhishand.Itwasonlynohysieasewashedoverhim.
Wheookabiteofhissandwich,thebreadseemedtoswellupinhismouth.Hecouldhardlyswalloushedhispteaside.
ThiswasthefirsttimethatBlomkvisthadfaycharge.Thejudgementwasatrifle,retivelyspeaking.Alightweightcrime.Notarmedrobbery,murder,orrapeafterall.Fromafinancialpointofview,however,itwasserious—Millenniumwasnotafgshipofthemediaworldwithunlimitedresources,themagazinebarelybrokeeven—butthejudgementdidnotspellcatastrophe.TheproblemwasthatBlomkvistwasoneofMillennium’spartowners,andatthesametime,idioticallyenough,hewasbothawriterandthemagazine’spublisher.Thedamagesof150,000kronorhewouldpayhimself,althoughthatwouldjustaboutwipeouthissavings.Themagazinewouldtakecareofthecourtcosts.Withprudentbudgetingitwouldworkout.
Hepohewisdomofsellinghisapartment,thoughitwouldbreakhisheart.Attheendofthego-goeighties,duringaperiodwhenhehadasteadyjobandaprettygoodsary,hehadlookedaroundforapermapcetolive.Heranfromoneapartmentshowingtoanotherbeforehestumbledonanatticftof700squarefeetrightattheendofBellmansgatan.Thepreviousownerwasinthemiddleofmakingitliveablebutsuddenlygotajobatadot-panyabroad,andBlomkvistwasabletobuyitinexpensively.
Herejectedtheinalinteriordesigner’ssketchesandfiheworkhimself.Heputmoofixingupthebathroomaarea,butinsteadofputtinginaparquetfloorandinteriorwallstomakeitintothepwo-roomapartment,hesahefloor-boards,whitewashedtheroughwalls,andhidtheworstpatchesbehindtwowatercoloursbyEmanuelBernstoheresultenlivingspace,withthebedroomareabehindashelf,andthediningareaandthelivingroomothesmallkitbehindater.TheapartmenthadtwodormerwindowsandagablewindowwithaviewoftherooftopstamStan,Sto’soldestse,aerofRiddarfj?rden.HehadaglimpseofwaterbytheSlussenlodaviewofCityHall.Todayhewouldneverbeabletoaffordsuapartment,andhebadlywaoholdontoit.
Butthathemightlosetheapartmentwasnothingbesidethefactthatprofessionallyhehadreceivedarealsmathewouldtakealongtimetorepairthedamage—ificouldeverberepaired.
Itwasamatteroftrust.Fortheforeseeablefuture,editorswouldhesitatetopublishastoryunderhisbyliillhadplentyoffriendsinthebusinesswhowouldaeptthathehadfallenvictimtobadludunusualcircumstances,buthewasneveragaingoingtobeabletomaketheslightestmistake.
Whathurtmostwasthehumiliation.Hehadheldallthetrumpsahehadlosttoasemi-gangsterinanArmanisuit.Adespicablestock-marketspecutor.Ayuppiewithacelebritywyerwhosneeredhiswaythroughthewholetrial.
HowinGod’shingsgones?
TheWer?maffairhadstartedoutwithsuiseinthecockpitofathirty-seven-footM?r-30onMidsummerEveayearandahalfearlier.Itbeganbyce,allbecauseaformerjournalistcolleague,noRflunkyatthetycil,waoimpresshisnewgirlfriend.HehadrashlyhiredaScampiforafewdaysofromanticsailingioarchipego.Thegirlfriend,justarrivedfromHallstahammartostudyinSto,hadagreedtotheoutingafterputtinguptokeaonlyifhersisterandhersister’sboyfriendcouldetoo.hetriofromHallstahammarhadanysailingexperiendunfortunatelyBlomkvist’soldcolleaguehadmoreenthusiasmthanexperiehreedaysbeforetheysetoffhehadcalledindesperationandpersuadedhimtoeasafifthcrewmember,onewhoknewnavigation.
Blomkvisthadnotthoughtmuchoftheproposal,buthecamearoundwhenpromisedafewdaysofrexationinthearchipegowithgoodfoodandpleasantpany.Thesepromisescametonaught,andtheexpeditionturomoreofadisasterthanhecouldhaveimagiheyhadsailedthebeautifulbutnotverydramaticroutefromBulnd?upthroughFurusundStraitatbarely9knots,butthenewgirlfriendwasinstantlyseasick.Hersisterstartedarguingwithherboyfriend,andhemshowedtheslightestiinlearningtheleastlittlethingaboutsailing.ItquicklybecameclearthatBlomkvistectedtotakechargeoftheboatwhiletheavehimwell-iiobasicallymeaninglessadvice.Afterthefirstnightinabayon?ngs?hewasreadytodocktheboatatFurusundandtakethebushome.Onlytheirdesperateappealspersuadedhimtostay.
Atnooday,earlyenoughthattherewerestilfewspacesavaible,theytiedupatthevisitors’wharfouresqueisndofArholma.TheyhadthrownsomelunchtogetherandhadjustfinishedwhenBlomkvistnoticedayellowfibregssM-30glidingintothebayusingonlyitsmainsail.Theboatmadeagracefultackwhilethehelmsmanlookedforaspotatthewharf.BlomkvisttoosedthespacearoundandsawthatthegapbetweentheirScampiandanH-boatoarboardsidewastheonlyslotleft.ThenarrowM-30wouldjustfit.HestoodupiernandpoihemanintheM-30raisedahandinthanksandsteeredtowardsthewharf.Alonesailorwhowasnotgoingtobotherstartinguptheengine,Blomkvistnoticed.Heheardtherattleoftheanchorandsedsterthemaincamedown,whiletheskippermovedlikeascaldedcattoguidetherudderstraightfortheslotandatthesametimereadythelinefromthebow.
BlomkvistclimbedupontherailingandheldoutahandforthepaihenewarrivalmadeocoursecorreandglidedperfectlyuptothesternoftheScampi,bynowmovingveryslowly.ItwasonlyasthemantossedthepaioBlomkvistthattheyreisedeachotherandsmiledindelight.
“Hi,Robban.Whydon’tyouuseyinesoyoudon’tscrapethepaintoffalltheboatsintheharbour?”
“Hi,Micke.Ithoughttherewassomethingfamiliaraboutyou.I’dlovetousetheengineifIcouldohepieceofcrapstarted.ItdiedtwodaysagooutbyR?dl?ga.”
Theyshookhandsacrosstherailings.
Aernitybefore,atKungsholmenschoolintheseventies,BlomkvistandRobertLindberghadbeenfriends,evenverygoodfriends.Assooftenhappenswithschoolbuddies,thefriendshipfadedaftertheyhadgoheirseparateways.Theyhadmetmaybehalfadozehepasttwentyyears,thestoneseveyearsago.Nowtheystudiedeachotherwithi.Lindberghadtangledhair,wastannedandhadatwo-week-oldbeard.
Blomkvistimmediatelyfeltinmuchbetterspirits.WhenthePRguyandhissillygirlfrieofftodancearoundtheMidsummerpoleinfrontofthegeneralstoreohersideoftheisayedbehindwithhisherringandaquavitinthecockpitoftheM-30,shootingthebreezewithhisoldschoolpal.
Sometimethatevening,aftertheyhadgivenupthebattlewithArholma’snotoriousmosquitoesandmoveddowntothe,andafterquiteafewshotsofaquavit,theversationturofriendlybanteraboutethithecorporateworld.LindberghadgonefromschooltotheStoSchoolofEidintothebankingbusiness.BlomkvisthadgraduatedfromtheStoSchoolofJournalismaedmuchofhisprofessionallifetoexposingcorruptioninthebankingandbusinessworld.Theirtalkbegantoexplorewhatwasethicallysatisfactoryiaingoldenparachuteagreementsduringtheniies.Lindbergeventuallycededtherewereowoimmoralbastardsinthebusinessworld.HelookedatBlomkvistressionthatwassuddenlyserious.
“Whydon’tyouwriteaboutHans-ErikWer?m?”
“Ididn’tknowtherewasanythingtowriteabouthim.”
“Dig.Dig,fod’ssake.HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheAIAprogramme?”
“Well,itwasasortofassistanmeintheohelpindustryintheformerEasternBloetbatheirfeet.Itwasshutdoleofyearsago.It’snothingI’veeverlookedinto.”
“TheAgencyforIndustrialAssistancerojectthatwasbackedbythestateandadministeredbyrepresentativesofaboutadozenbigSwedishfirms.TheAIAobtainedgoverguaranteesforanumberofprojeitiatedinagreementwiththegoversinPondaics.TheSwedishTradeUnionfederation,LO,alsojoinedinasaguarantorthattheworkers’movementiwouldbestrengthenedaswellbyfollowingtheSwedishmodel.Intheory,itwasanassistanceprojectthatbuiltontheprincipleofhelpforself-help,anditposedtogivetheregimesiheopportunitytorestructuretheireies.Inpractice,however,itmeantthatSwedishpanieswouldgetstatesubventionsfoingiablishingthemselvesaspartownersinpaniesiernEuropeantries.ThatgoddammedmiheChristianpartywasaadvocateoftheAIA,whichwasgoingtosetupapapermillinKrakorovidenewequipmentforametalsindustryinRiga,atfactoryinTallinn,andsoon.ThefundswouldbedistributedbytheAIAboard,whisistedofanumberofheavyweightsfromthebankingandcorporateworld.”
“Soitwastaxmoney?”
“Abouthalfcamefromgovertributions,andthebanksandcorporationsputuptherest.Butitwasfarfromanidealoperation.Thebanksandindustryweretingonmakingasweetprofit.Otherwisetheydamnwellwouldn’thavebothered.”
“Howmueyarewetalkingabout?”
“Holdon,listentothis.TheAIAwasdealingprimarilywithbigSwedishfirmswhowaogetintotheEasternEuropeanmarket.HeavyindustrieslikeASEABrownBoveriandSkanskastruandthelike.Notspecutionfirms,inotherwords.”
“AreyoutelliSkanskadoesn’tdospecution?Wasn’tittheirmanagingdirectorwhowasfiredafterheletsomeofhisboysspecuteawayhalfabillioninquickstockturnovers?AndhowabouttheirhystericalpropertydealsinLondonandOslo?”
“Sure,thereareidiotsineverypanytheworldover,butyouknowwhatImean.Atleastthosepauallyproduething.ThebaeofSwedishindustryandallthat.”
“WheredoesWer?meintothepicture?”
“Wer?misthejokerinthepack.Meaningthathe’saguywhoturnsupoutoftheblue,whohasnobackgroundwhatsoeverinheavyindustry,andwhoreallyhasnobusinessgettinginvolvedintheseprojects.Buthehasamassedacolossalfortuhestockmarketandhasiedinsolidpanies.Hecameinbythebackdoor,sotospeak.”
Ashesattherei,BlomkvistfilledhisgsswithReimersholmsbrandyandleanedback,tryingtorememberwhatlittleheknewaboutWer?m.BornupinNorrnd,whereintheseventieshesetupamentpany.HemademoneyandmovedtoSto,andtherehiscareertookoffiies.HecreatedWer?m-gruppen,theWer?mGroup,wheupoffiLondonandNewYorkandthepanystartedtogetmentiohesamearticlesasBeijer.Hetradedstodoptionsandlikedtomakequickdeals,andheemergedinthecelebritypressasoneofSweden’snumerousbilliohacityhomeonStrandv?gen,afabuloussummervilontheisndofV?rmd?,ay-two-footmotoryachtthatheboughtfromabankruptformertennisstar.Hewasabeanter,naturally,buttheeightieswasthedecadeofthebeantersandpropertyspecutors,andWer?mhadnotmadeasignifitlybigspsh.Orary,hehadremainedsomethingofamanintheshadowsamonghispeers.HeckedJanStenbeck’sfmboyanddidnotspreadhimselfalloverthetabloidslikePercyBarnevik.HesaidgoodbyetorealestateandinsteadmademassiveimentsintheformerEasternBloc.Whenthebubbleburstintheniiesandonemanagingdirectorafteranotherwasforcedtocashinhisgoldenparachute,Wer?m’spanycameoutofitinremarkablygoodshape.“ASwedishsuessstory,”astheFinancialTimescalledit.
“Thatwas1992,”Lindbergsaid.“Wer?mtactedAIAandsaidhewantedfunding.Hepresentedapn,seeminglybackedbyisinPond,whichaimedatestablishinganindustryforthemanufactureofpackagingforfoodstuffs.”
“Atin-dustry,youmean.”
“Notquite,butsomethingalongthoselines.IhavenoideawhohekheAIA,buthewalkedoutwithsixtymillionkronor.”
“Thisisstartingtogetiimeguess:thatwasthestanyonesawofthemoney.”
“Wrong.”Lindberggaveaslysmilebeforehefortifiedhimselfwithafewmoresipsofbrandy.
“peerthatisapieceofcssickeeping.Wer?mreallydidsetupapackagingfactoryinPond,inLódz.ThepanywascalledMinos.AIAreceivedafewenthusiasticreportsduring1993,thensilen1994,Minos,outoftheblue,colpsed.”
Lindbergputhisemptygssdownhaticsmack.
“TheproblemwithAIAwasthattherewasnorealsysteminpceforrepontheprojeemberthosedays:everyonewassooptimistitheBerlinWallcamedown.Democracywasgoingtobeintroduced,thethreatofnuclearwarwasover,andtheBolshevikswouldturninturlittlecapitalistsht.ThegoverwaonaildowndemocratheEast.EverycapitalistwaojumponthebandwagonandhelpbuildthenewEurope.”
“Ididn’tknoitalistsweresoanxioustogetinvolvedincharity.”
“Believeme,ititalist’swetdream.RussiaaernEuropemaybetheworld’sbiggestuntappedmarketsaftera.Industryhadnoproblemjoininghandswiththegover,especiallywhenthepanieswererequiredtoputuponlyatokement.Inall,AIAswallowedaboutthirtybillionkronorofthetaxpayers’moposedtoebafutureprofits.Formally,AIAwasthegover’sinitiative,buttheinfluenceofindustrywassogreatthatinactualfacttheAIAboarderatingindepely.”
“Soisthereastoryinallthis?”
“Bepatient.Whentheprojectstartedthereroblemwithfinang.Swedenhadbeenhitbythei-rateshock.ThegoverytoplugAIAasohebiggestSwedisheffortstopromotedemocratheEast.”
“Andthiswasalluheservativegover?”
“Dopoliticsmixedupinthis.It’salboutmoneyanditmakesnodiffereheSocialDemocratsorthemoderatesappointtheministers.So,fullspeedahead.Thehefn-exgeproblems,andafterthatsomecrazyNewDemocrats—rememberthem?—startedwhiningthattherewasasheofhtinwhatAIAwasinto.OheirhenhadfusedAIAwiththeSwedishIionalDevelopmentAuthorityandthoughtitwasallsomedamndo-gooderprojectliketheoanzania.Inthespringof1994amissionoioiigate.Atthattimethereweresaboutseveralprojects,butohefirsttobeiigatedwasMinos.”
“AndWer?mcouldn’tshowwhatthefundshadbeenusedfor.”
“Farfromit.Heproduexcellewhichshowedthataroundfifty-fourmillionkronorwasiedinMinos.ButitturthatthereweretoomanyhugeadministrativeproblemsinwhatwasleftofPondforamodernpackagingindustrytobeabletofun.InpracticetheirfactorywasshutoutbythepetitionfromasimirGermanproject.TheGermansweredoingtheirbesttobuyuptheeernBloc.”
“Yousaidthathehadbeengivensixtymillionkronor.”
“Exactly.Themoneyservedasa-freeloan.Theidea,ofcourse,wasthatthepanieswouldpaybackpartofthemoneyoveranumberofyears.ButMinoshadgoneunderandWer?mcouldnotbebmedforit.Herethestateguaranteeskickedin,andWer?mwasindemnified.AllheodoaybackthemohatwaslostwhenMiunder,andhecouldalsoshowthathehadlostacorrespondingamountofhisownmoney.”
“LetmeseeifIuandthiscorrectly.Thegoversuppliedbillionsintaxmoney,anddiplomatstoopendoors.Industriesgotthemoneyaoiinjoiuresfromwhichtheyterreapedvastprofits.Inotherwords,businessasusual.”
“You’reaic.Theloansweresupposedtobepaidbacktothestate.”
“Yousaidthattheywerei-free.Sothatmeaaxpayersgotnothingatallforputtingupthecash.Wer?mgotsixtymillion,andiedfifty-fourmillionofit.peheothersixmillion?”
“WhenitbecameclearthattheAIAprojectwasgoingtobeiigated,Wer?msentachequeforsixmilliontoAIAforthedifferehematterwassettled,legallyatleast.”
“ItsoundsasthoughWer?mfritteredawayalittlemoneyforAIA.ButparedwiththehalfbillionthatdisappearedfromSkanskaortheCEOofABB’sgoldenparachuteofmorethanabillionkronor—whichreallyupsetpeople—thisdoesobemuchtowriteabout,”Blomkvistsaid.“Today’sreadersareprettytiredofstoriesaboutispecutors,evenifit’swithpublids.Istheremoretothestory?”
“Itgetsbetter.”
“HowdoyouknowallthisaboutWer?m’sdealsinPond?”
“IworkedatHandelsbaheniies.Guesswhowrotethereportsforthebank’srepresentativeinAIA?”
“Aha.Tellmemore.”
“Well,AIAgottheirreportfromWer?hebahemoneyhadbeenpaidback.Thatsixmillioningbackwasveryclever.”
“Gettothepoint.”
“But,mydearBlomkvist,thatisthepoint.AIAwassatisfiedwithWer?m’sreport.Itwasamentthatwenttohell,buttherewasnocriticismofthewayithadbeenmanaged.Welookedatinvoidtransfersandallthedots.Everythingwasmeticulouslyaountedfor.Ibelievedit.Mybossbelievedit.AIAbelievedit,andthegoverhadnothingtosay.”
“Where’sthehook?”
“Thisiswherethestetsticklish,”Lindbergsaid,lookingsurprisinglysober.“Andsinceyou’reajournalist,thisisofftherecord.”
“eoffit.You’tsittheretellihisstuffandthensayI’tuseit.”
“Icertainly.WhatI’vetoldyousofarisinthepublicrecord.Youlookupthereportifyouwant.Therestofthestory—whatIhaven’ttoldyou—youwriteabout,butyou’llhavetotreatmeasananonymoussource.”
“OK,but‘offtherecord’incurrentterminologymeansthatI’vebeentoldsomethinginfidend’twriteaboutit.”
“Screwtheterminology.Writewhateverthehellyouwant,butI’myouranonymoussource.Areweagreed?”
“Ofcourse,”Blomkvistsaid.
Inhindsight,thiswasamistake.
“Allrightthen.TheMinosstorytookpcemorethanadecadeago,justaftertheWallcamedownandtheBolsheviksstartingaglikedetcapitalists.IwasohepeoplewhoiigatedWer?m,andthewholetimeIthoughttherewassomethingdamnedoddabouthisstory.”
“Whydidn’tyousaysowhenyousignedoffonhisreport?”
“Idiscusseditwithmyboss.Buttheproblemwasthattherewasn’tanythingtopinpoint.ThedotswereallOK,Ihadonlytosignthereport.EverytimeI’veseenWer?m’shepresssihenIthinkaboutMinos,andbecausesomeyearster,inthemid-niies,mybankwasdoingsomebusinesswithWer?m.Prettybigbusiness,actually,anditdidn’tturnoutsowell.”
“Hecheatedyou?”
“No,nothingthatobvious.Webothmademohedeals.Itwasmorethat…Idon’tknowquitehowtoexpinit,andnowI’mtalkingaboutmyownemployer,andIdon’twanttodothat.Butwhatstruckme—thestingandoverallimpression,astheysay—wasnotpositive.Wer?mispresehemediaasatremendousfinancialoracle.Hethrivesonthat.It’shis‘trustcapital.’”
“Iknowwhatyoumean.”
“Myimpressionwasthatthemanwasallbluff.Hewasn’tevenparticurlybrightasafinancier.Infact,Ithoughthewasdamnedignorantaboutcertainsubjectsalthoughhehadsomereallysharpyoungwarriorsforadvisers.Aboveall,Ireallydidn’tcareforhimpersonally.”
“So?”
“AfewyearsagoIwentdowntoPondohermatter.rouphaddihsomeiorsinLódz,andIfoundmyselfatthesametableasthemayor.WetalkedaboutthedifficultyofgettingPond’seyonitsfeetandallthat,andsomehoworotherImentioheMinosproject.Themayorlookedquiteastonishedforamoment—asifhehadneverheardofMinos.Hetoldmeitwassomecrummylittlebusinessandnothingevercameofit.Heughedandsaid—I’mquotingwordforword—thatifthatwasthebestouriorsahenSwedenwasn’tlongforthislife.Areyoufollowingme?”
“ThatmayorofLódzisobviouslyasharpfellow,butgoon.”
“ThedayIhadameetinginthem,buttherestofmydaywasfree.ForthehellofitIdroveouttolookattheshut-downMinosfactoryinasmalltownoutsideofLódz.ThegiantMinosfactorywasaram-shacklestructure.AcatedironstebuildingthattheRedArmyhadbuiltiies.IfoundawatonthepropertywhocouldspeakalittleGermananddiscoveredthatoneofhiscousinshadworkedatMinosaovertohishousenearby.Thewatinterpreted.Areyouiedinhearingwhathehadtosay?”
“Ihardlywait.”
“Minosopeheautumnof1992.Therewereatmostfifteenemployees,themajorityofthemoldwomen.Theirpaywasaroundonehundredfiftykronoramonth.Atfirsttherewerenomaes,sotheworkforcespeimeingupthepearlyOctoberthreecardboardboxmaesarrivedfral.Theywereoldaelyobsolete.Thescrapvaluecouldn’thavebeehahousandkronor.Themaesdidwork,buttheykeptbreakingdown.Naturallytherewerenospareparts,soMinossufferedeoppages.”
“Thisisstartingtosoundlikeastory,”Blomkvistsaid.“WhatdidtheymakeatMinos?”
“Throughout1992andhalfof1993theyproducedsimplecardboardboxesforwashingpowdersandeggcartonsandthelike.Theartedmakingpaperbags.Butthefactorycouldenoughrawmaterials,sotherewasneveraquestionofmueofprodu.”
“Thisdoesn’tsoundlikeagigantivestment.”
“Iranthehetotalrentmusthavebeenaround15,000kronorfortwoyears.Wagesmayhaveamouo150,000SEKatmost—andI’mbeinggeneroushere.aesandcostht…avantodelivertheeggcartons…I’mguessing250,000.Addfeesforpermits,alittletravellingbadforth—apparentlyonepersonfromSwedendidvisitthesiteafewtimes.Itlooksasthoughthewholeoperationranforuwomillion.Onedayinthesummerof1993theforemancamedowntothefactoryandsaiditwasshutdown,andawhileteraHungarianlorryappearedandcarriedoffthemaery.Bye-bye,Minos.”
InthecourseofthetrialBlomkvisthadoftenthoughtofthatMidsummerEve.Fepartsoftheevenioheversatiofeesiftheywerebackatschool,havingafriendlyargument.Asteeheyhadsharedtheburdensmontothatstageinlife.Asgrown-upstheywereeffectivelystrangers,bynowquitedifferentsortsofpeople.DurialkBlomkvisthadthoughtthathereallycouldnotrecallwhatitwasthathadmadethemsuchfriendsatschool.HerememberedLindbergasareservedboy,incrediblyshywithgirls.Asanadulthewasasuessful…well,climberinthebankingworld.
Herarelygotdrunk,butthatcemeetinghadtransformedadisastroussailingtripintoapleasantevening.Andbecausetheversationhadsomuechoofaschoolboytone,hedidnotatfirsttakeLindberg’sstoryaboutWer?mseriously.Graduallyhisprofessionalinstinctswerearoused.Eventuallyhewaslisteningattentively,andthelogicalobjessurfaced.
“Waitased,”hesaid.“Wer?misatopnameamongmarketspecutors.He’smadehimselfabillion,hashenot?”
“TheWer?mGroupissittingonsomewhereclosetotwohundredbillion.Yoingtoaskwhyabillionaireshouldgotothetroubleofswindlingatriflingfiftymillion.”
“Well,putitthisouldheriskhisownandhispany’sgoodnameonsuchabtantswindle?”
“Itwasn’tsoobviouslyaswindlegiventhattheAIAboard,thebahegover,andParliament’sauditorsalpprovedWer?m’saountingwithoutasingledissentingvote.”
“It’sstilridiculouslysmallsumforsovastarisk.”
“Certainly.Butjustthink:theWer?mGroupisamentpanythatdealswithproperty,securities,options,fnexge…you.Wer?mtactedAIAin1992justasthebottomwasabouttodropoutofthemarket.Doyouremembertheautumnof1992?”
“DoI?Ihadavariable-ratemeonmyapartmeheirateshotupfivehundredpertinOctober.Iwasstuckwithnieenpertiforayear.”
“Thosewereihedays,”Lindbergsaid.“Ilostabuyearmyself.AndHans-ErikWer?m—likeeveryotherpyerinthemarket—waswrestlingwiththesameproblem.Thepanyhadbillionstiedupinpaperofvarioustypes,butnotsomuchcash.Allofasuddentheycouldnolongerborrowanyamounttheyliked.Theusualthinginsuchasituationistounloadafewpropertiesandlickyourwounds,butin1992nobodywaobuyrealestate.”
“Cash-flowproblems.”
“Exactly.AndWer?mwasn’ttheonlyone.Everybusinessman…”
“Don’tsaybusinessman.Callthemwhatyoulike,butcallingthembusinessmenisaninsulttoaseriousprofession.”
“Allright,everyspecutorhadcash-flowproblems.Lookatitthisway:Wer?mgotsixtymillionkronor.Hepaidbacksixmil,butonlyafterthreeyears.Therealinosdidomorethantwomillioerestaloneonsixtymillionforthreeyears,that’squiteabit.Dependingonhowheiedthemoney,hemighthavedoubledtheAIAmoney,ormaybegrowimesover.Thenwe’renoloalkingaboutcatshit.Sk?l,bytheway.”
CHAPTER2
Friday,December20
DraganArmanskywasborninCroatiafifty-sixyearsago.HisfatherwasanArmenianJewfromBelorussia.HismotherwasaBosnianMuslimofGreekextra.Shehadtakenchargeofhisupbringingandhiseducation,whichmeantthatasanadulthewaslumpedtogetherwiththatrge,heterogeneousgroupdefihemediaasMuslims.TheSwedishimmigrationauthoritieshadregisteredhim,strangelyenough,asaSerb.HispassportfirmedthathewasaSwedishcitizen,andhispassportphotographshowedasquarishface,astrongjaw,five-o’clockshadow,andgreyingtemples.Hewasoftenreferredtoas“TheArab,”althoughhedidnothaveadropofArabblood.
HelookedalittlelikethestereotypicallocalbossinanAmerigangstermovie,butinfacthewasatalentedfinancialdirectorwhohadbegunhiscareerasajunioraountantatMiltonSecurityintheearlysevehreedecadesterhehadadvaodCOOofthepany.
Hehadbeefasatedwiththesecuritybusiness.Itwaslikewargames—toidentifythreats,developter-strategies,andallthetimestayoepaheadoftheindustrialspies,bckmailersandthieves.Itbeganforhimwhenhediscoveredhowtheswindlingofathadbeenacplishedthroughcreativekeeping.Hewasabletoprovewhroupofadozenpeople,wasbehindit.Hehadbeenpromotedandpyedakeyroleinthefirm’sdevelopmentandertinfinancialfraud.FifteeerhebecameCEO.HehadtransformedMiltonSecurityintooneofSweden’smostpetentandtrustedsecurityfirms.
Thepanyhad380full-timeemployeesandanother300freencers.ItwassmallparedtoFalckorSwedishGuardService.WhenArmanskyfirstjoihepanywascalledJohanFredrikMilton’sGeneralSecurityAB,andithadatlistsistingofshoppiresthatneededfloorwalkersandmuscurguards.UnderhisleadershipthefirmwasnowtheiionallyreisedMiltonSecurityandhadiedincuttieology.Nightwatwellpasttheirprime,uniformfetishists,andmoonlightinguystudentshadbeenrepcedbypeoplewithrealprofessionalskills.Armanskyhiredmatureex-poliasoperationschiefs,politicalstistsspecialisingiionalterrorism,andexpertsinpersonalproteandindustrialespionage.Mostimportantly,hehiredthebesttelemunicationsteisandITexperts.ThepanymovedfromSolnatostate-of-the-artoffiearSlussen,intheheartofSto.
Bythestartoftheniies,MiltonSecuritywasequippedtoofferanewlevelofsecuritytoanexclusivegroupofts,primarilymedium-sizedcorporationsao-doprivateindividuals—nouveau-richerockstars,stock-marketspecutors,anddot-highflyers.Apartofthepany’sactivityrovidingbodyguardproteandsecuritysolutionstoSwedishfirmsabroad,especiallyintheMiddleEast.Thisareaoftheirbusinessnowaountedfor70pertofthepany’sturnover.UnderArmansky,saleshadincreasedfromaboutfortymillionSEKannuallytoalmosttwobillion.Providingsecuritywasalucrativebusiness.
Operationsweredividedamongthreemainareas:securitysultations,whisistedofidentifyingceivableihreats;ter-measures,whichusuallyinvolvedtheinstaltionofsecuritycameras,burgrandfirearms,eleiclogmeismsandITsystems;andpersonalproteforprivateindividualsorpahisstmarkethadgrownforty
LarssonStieg
PROLOGUE
AFridayinNovember
Ithappenedeveryyear,wasalmostaritual.Andthiswashiseighty-sedbirthday.When,asusual,theflowerwasdelivered,hetookofftheingpaperandthenpickedupthetelephoocallDetectiveSuperinteMorellwho,wheired,hadmovedtoLakeSiljaninDarna.Theywerenotonlythesameage,theyhadbeenbornonthesameday—whichwassomethingofanironyuhecircumstaheoldpoliwassittingwithhiscoffee,waiting,expegthecall.
“Itarrived.”
“Whatisitthisyear?”
“Idon’tknowwhatkinditis.I’llhavetogetsomeootellmewhatitis.It’swhite.”
“er,Isuppose.”
“Justtheflower.Theframeisthesamekindasstyear.Ohosedo-it-yourselfones.”
“Postmark?”
“Sto.”
“Handwriting?”
“Sameasalways,allincapitals.Upright,lettering.”
Withthat,thesubjectwasexhausted,andnotanotherwordwasexgedforalmostamiheretiredpolileanedbahiskitchairanddrewonhispipe.Heknewhewasnolongerexpectedtoeupithymentoranysharpquestionwhichwouldshedanewlightonthecase.Thosedayshadlongsincepassed,andtheexgebetweewomenseemedlikearituattagtoamysterywhio-oneelseinthewholeworldhadtheleastiinunravelling.
TheLatinnametospermumrubite.Itntaboutfourincheshighwithsmall,heather-likefoliageandawhiteflowerwithfivepetalsaboutoneinchacross.
ThepntwasnativetotheAustralianbushandupnds,whereitwastobefoundamongtussocksofgrass.ThereitwascalledDesertSanistwroteinherreportthatitwasretedtotheteatreeandthatitwassometimesfusedwithitsmoremoncousiospermumscoparium,whichgrewinabundanewZeand.Whatdistinguishedthem,shepoi,wasthatrubitehadasmallnumberofmicroscopikdotsatthetipsofthepetals,givingtheflowerafaintpinkishtinge.
Rubitewasaltogetheranuiousflower.Ithadnoknownmedialproperties,anditcouldnotinducehalluatoryexperiewasheredible,norhadauseinthemanufactureofpntdyes.Oherhand,theabinalpeopleofAustraliaregardedassacredtheregionandthefloraaroundAyersRock.
Thebotanistsaidthatsheherselfhadneverseenonebefore,butaftersultinghercolleaguesshewastoreportthatattemptshadbeeointroducethepntatanurseryinG?teb,andthatitmight,ofcourse,becultivatedbyamateurbotanists.ItwasdifficulttogrowinSwedenbecauseitthrivedinadryclimateandhadtoremainindoorshalfoftheyear.Itwouldnotthriveincalcareoussoindithadtobewateredfrombelow.Itneededpampering.
Thefactofitsbeingsorareaflhttohavemadeiteasiertotracethesourceofthisparticurspe,butinpracticeitossibletask.Therewasrytolookitupin,nolicestoexplore.Anywherefromahandfultoafewhuhusiastscouldhavehadaesstoseedsorpnts.AndthosecouldhavegedhaweenfriendsorbeenboughtbymailorderfromanywhereinEurope,anywhereiipodes.
ButitwasonlyoheseriesofmystifyingflowersthateachyeararrivedbypostonthefirstdayofNovember.Theywerealwaysbeautifundforthemostpartrareflowers,alressed,mountedonwater-colourpaperinasimpleframemeasuringsixinchesbyeleveninches.
Thestraoryoftheflowershadneverbeeedinthepress;onlyaveryfewpeopleknewofit.Thirtyyearsagurarrivaloftheflowerwastheobjeuchscrutiny—attheNationalForensicLaboratory,amongfingerprintexperts,graphologists,criminaliigators,aworetivesandfriendsoftherecipient.Nowtheactorsinthedramawerebutthree:theelderlybirthdayboy,theretiredpolicedetective,andthepersonostedtheflower.Thefirsttwoatleasthadreachedsuagethatthegroupofiedpartieswouldsooherdiminished.
Thepoliwasahardeeran.Hewouldhisfirstcase,inwhichhehadhadtotakeintocustodyaviolentandappallinglydrunkworkerataricalsubstationbeforehecausedothersharm.Duringhiscareerhehadbroughtinpoachers,wifebeaters,en,carthieves,anddrunkdrivers.Hehaddealtwithburgrs,drugdealers,rapists,andonederangedbomber.Hehadbeeninvolvedinninemurderormansughtercases.Ihesethemurdererhadcalledthepolicehimselfand,fullofremorse,fessedtohavingkilledhiswifeorbrotherorsomeotherretive.Twoothersweresolvedwithinafewdays.AnotherrequiredtheassistaheNationalCriminalPolidtooktwoyears.
Theninthcasewassolvedtothepolice’ssatisfa,whichistosaythattheyknewwhothemurdererwas,butbecausetheevidencewassoinsubstantialthepublicprosecutordecidednottoproceedwiththecase.Tothedetectivesuperinte’sdismay,thestatuteoflimitatiouallyputaothematter.Butallinallhecouldlookbaanimpressivecareer.
Hewasanythingbutpleased.
Forthedetective,the“CaseofthePressedFlowers”hadbeennaggingathimforyears—hisst,unsolved,andfrustratingcase.Thesituationwasdoublyabsurdbecauseafterspendingliterallythousandsofhoursbrooding,ondutyandoff,hecouldnotsaybeyonddoubtthatacrimehadindeedbeenmitted.
Thetwomehatwhoeverhadmouheflowerswouldhavewloves,thattherewouldbenofingerprintsontheframess.Theframecouldhavebeenboughtincamerashopsorstatioorestheworldover.Therewas,quitesimply,ofollow.MostoftentheparcelostedinSto,butthreetimesfromLondon,twiParis,twihagen,onadrid,onBonn,andonPensaco,Florida.Thedetectivesuperintehadhadtolookitupinanats.
Afterputtingdowelephoheeighty-two-year-oldbirthdayboysatforalongtimelookingattheprettybutmeaninglessflowerwhosenamehedidknoherehungforty-threepressedflowersintheirframes.Fourrowsoften,ahebottomwithfour.Ioprowonewasmissingfromtheninthslot.DesertSnowwouldbenumberforty-four.
Withoutwarninghebegantoweep.Hesurprisedhimselfwiththissuddenburstofemotionafteralmostfortyyears.
PART1
Iive
DECEMBER20–JANUARY3
EighteenpertofthewomeninSwedeoimebeeenedbyaman.
CHAPTER1
Friday,December20
Thetrialwasirretrievablyover;everythingthatcouldbesaidhadbeensaid,buthehadneverdoubtedthathewouldlose.Thewrittenverdictwashandeddownat10:00onFridaym,andallthatremainedwasasummingupfromthereporterswaitinginthecorridoroutsidethedistrictcourt.
“Carl”MikaelBlomkvistsawthemthroughthedoorwayandslowedhisstep.Hehadnowishtodiscusstheverdict,butquestionswereunavoidable,andhe—ofallpeople—khattheyhadtobeaskedandanswered.Thisishowitistobeacriminal,hethought.Ohersideofthemicrophoraightenedupandtriedtosmile.Therepavehimfriendly,almostembarrassedgreetings.
“Let’ssee…Afto,Expressen,TTwireservice,TV4,and…whereareyoufrom?…ahyes,Dagenser.Imustbeacelebrity,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Giveusasoundbite,KalleBlomkvist.”Itorterfromoheeveningpapers.
Blomkvist,hearingtheniame,forcedhimselfasalwaysnottorollhiseyes.Once,whewenty-threeandhadjuststartedhisfirstsummerjobasajournalist,Blomkvisthadceduponagangwhichhadpulledofffivebankrobberiesoverthepasttwoyears.Therewasnodoubtthatitwasthesamegangineveryinstaheirtrademarkwastoholduptwobanksatatimewithmilitaryprecision.TheyworemasksfromDisneyWorld,soiablypolicelogicdubbedthemtheDonaldDug.TheneersrehemtheBearGang,whichsoundedmoresinister,moreappropriatetothefactthatontwooasionstheyhadrecklesslyfiredwarningshotsandthreatenedcuriouspassersby.
Theirsixthoutingwasatabankindattheheightoftheholidayseasoerfromthelocalradiostationhappeobeinthebankatthetime.Assoonastherobbersweregotoapublictelephoneanddictatedhisstoryforlivebroadcast.
Blomkvistendingseveraldayswithagirlfriendatherparents’summernearKatrineholm.Exactlywhyhemadetheehecouldnotexpihepolice,butashewaslisteningtothenewsreportherememberedagroupoffourmeninasummerafewhundredfeetdowntheroad.Hehadseenthempyingbadmintonoutintheyard:fourblond,athletictypesinshortswiththeirshirtsoff.Theywereobviouslybodybuilders,andtherehadbeehingaboutthemthathadmadehimlooktwice—maybeitwasbecausethegamewasbeingpyedinbzingsunshihwhathereisedasintenselyfocusedenergy.
Therehadbeennogoodreasontosuspectthemofbeingthebankrobbers,buthelesshehadgooahilloverlookingtheir.Itseemedempty.ItwasaboutfortyminutesbeforeaVolvodroveupandparkedintheyard.Theyouout,inahurry,andwereeachcarryingasportsbag,sotheymighthavebeendoingnothingmorethaningbaaswivenfromBlomkvist’sretivelydistantobservationposthecouldtellthatitwasagoodoldAK4,theriflethathadbeenhisstantpanionfortheyearofhismilitaryservice.
Hecalledthepolidthatwasthestartofathree-daysiegeofthe,bcebythemedia,withBlomkvistinafront-rowseatandcollegagratifyinglyrgefeefromaneveningpaper.ThepolicesetuptheirheadquartersinacaravaninthegardenofthewhereBlomkvistwasstaying.
ThefalloftheBearGanggavehimthestarbillingthatunchedhimasayoungjournalist.Thedownsideofhiscelebritywasthattheothereveningneercouldusingtheheadline“KalleBlomkvistsolvesthecase.”Thetongue-iorywaswrittenbyanolderfemalenistandtainedrefereheyouiveinAstridLindgren’ssforchildren.Tomakemattersworse,thepaperhadruorywithagrainyphotographofBlomkvistwithhismouthhalfopenevenasheraisedanindexfiopoint.
ItmadenodiffereBlomkvisthadneverinlifeusedthenameCarl.Fromthatmomenton,tohisdismay,hewasniamedKalleBlomkvistbyhispeers—ahetemployedwithtauntingprovocation,notunfriendlybutnotreallyfrieher.InspiteofhisrespectforAstridLindgren—whosesheloved—hedetestedtheniame.Ittookhimseveralyearsandfarweightierjournalisticsuessesbeforetheniamebegantofade,buthestillgedifeverthenamewasusedinhishearing.
Rightnowheachievedapcidsmileandsaidtothereporterfromtheeveningpaper:“Oheon,thinkofsomethingyourself.Youusuallydo.”
Histonewasnotunpleasant.Theyallkneweachother,moreorless,andBlomkvist’smostviciouscriticshadm.Ohejournaliststherehadatoimeworkedwithhim.Andatapartysomeyearsagohehadnearlysueededinpigupohereporters—thewomanfromSheonTV4.
“Youtookarealhitioday,”saidtheonefromDagenser,clearlyayoungpart-timer.“Howdoesitfeel?”
DespitetheseriousnessofthesituatioherBlomkvistnortheolderjournalistscouldhelpsmiling.HeexgedghTV4.Howdoesitfeel?Thehalf-wittedsportsreportershoveshismicrophohefaceoftheBreathlessAthleteonthefinishingline.
“Ilyregretthatthecourtdidoadifferentclusion,”hesaidabitstuffily.
“Threemonthsingaond150,000kronordamages.That’sprettysevere,”saidShefromTV4.
“I’llsurvive.”
“AreyougoingtoapologisetoWer?m?Shakehishand?”
“Ithinknot.”
“Soyoustillwouldsaythathe’sacrook?”Dagenser.
ThecourthadjustruledthatBlomkvisthadlibelledanddefamedthefinancierHans-ErikWer?m.Thetrialwasoverandhehadnopnstoappeal.Sowhatwouldhappenifherepeatedhisthecourthousesteps?Blomkvistdecidedthathedidnotwanttofindout.
“IthoughtIhadgoodreasontopublishthermationthatwasinmypossession.Thecourthasruledotherwise,andImustaeptthatthejudicialprocesshastakenitscourse.Thoseofusoorialstaffwillhavetodiscussthejudgementbeforewedecidewhatwe’regoingtodo.Ihavenomoretoadd.”
“Buthowdidyouetofetthatjournalistsactuallyhavetobackuptheirassertions?”ShefromTV4.Herexpressionwasral,butBlomkvistthoughthesawahintofdisappointedrepudiationinhereyes.
Thereportersonsite,apartfromtheboyfromDagenser,wereallveteransinthebusiness.Forthemtheahatquestionwasbeyondtheceivable.“Ihavenothingtoadd,”herepeated,butwhehershadaeptedthisTV4stoodhimagainstthedoorstothecourthouseandaskedherquestionsinfrontofthecamera.Shewaskihanhedeserved,andtherewereenoughclearaosatisfyallthereportersstillstandingbehihestorywouldbeintheheadliheremindedhimselfthattheywerenotdealingwiththemediaeventoftheyearhere.Thereportershadwhattheyneededandheadedbacktotheirrespectivenewsrooms.
Hesideredwalking,butitwasablusteryDecemberdayandhewasalreadycoldaftertheinterview.Ashewalkeddownthecourtroomsteps,hesawWilliamBgettingoutofhiscar.Hemusthavebeensittingtheredurierview.Theireyesmet,andthenBsmiled.
“Itwasworthingdowtoseeyouwiththatpaperinyourhand.”
Blomkvistsaidnothing.BandBlomkvisthadknowneachotherforfifteenyears.Theyhadworkedtogetherascubreportersforthefinancialseofampaper.Maybeitwasaquestionofchemistry,butthefoundationhadbeenidthereforalifeloy.InBlomkvist’seyes,Bhadbeenathird-ratereporterandatroublesomepersonwhoannoyedeveryonearoundhimwithcrassjokesandmadedisparagingremarksaboutthemoreexperienced,olderreporters.Heseemedtodisliketheolderfemalereportersinparticur.Theyhadtheirfirstquarrel,thenothers,andanoagonismturnedpersonal.
Overtheyears,theyhadrunintoeachurly,butitwasnotuntilthetehattheybecameseriousenemies.BlomkvisthadpublishedaaboutfinancialjournalismandquotedextensivelyanumberofidioticarticleswrittenbyB.Bcameacrossasapompousasswhogotmanyofhisfactsupsidedownandwrotehomagestodot-pahatwereonthebrinkofgoingunder.Whenthereaftertheymetbyabariheyhadallbutetoblows.Bleftjournalism,andnowheworkedinPR—forasiderablyhighersary—atafirmthat,tomakethingsworse,artofindustrialistHans-ErikWer?m’ssphereofinfluence.
TheylookedateachotherforalongmomentbeforeBlomkvistturnedonhisheendwalkedaway.IticalofBtodrivetothecourthousesimplytositthereandughathim.
Thenumber40busbrakedtoastopinfrontofB’sdBlomkvisthoppedontomakehisescape.HegotoffatFridhemspn,undecidedwhattodo.Hewasstillholdingthejudgementdotinhishand.FinallyhewalkedovertoKaféAnothegarageentranceleadingunderhepolicestation.
Halfamierhehadorderedacaffetteandasandwich,thelunchtimenewscameontheradio.ThestoryfollowedthatofasuicidebombinginJerusalemandthehatthegoverhadappointedamissiontoiigatetheallegedformationofanewcartelwithinthestruindustry.
JournalistMikaelBlomkvistofthemagazineMillenniumwassentehismto90daysingaravatedlibelofindustrialistHans-ErikWer?m.Inanarticleearlierthisyearthatdrewattentiontotheso-calledMinosaffair,BlomkvistcimedthatWer?mhadusedstatefundsintendedforindustrialimentinPondforarmsdeals.Blomkvistwasalsosenteopay150,000SEKindamages.Inastatement,Wer?m’swyerBertilermarkersaidthathistwassatisfiedwiththejudgement.Itwasaionallyeouscaseoflibel,hesaid.
Thejudgementwastwenty-sixpageslong.ItsetoutthereasonsforfindingBlomkvistguiltyonfifteentsofaggravatedlibelofthebusinessmanHans-ErikWer?dthentherewerethecourtcostsandhisownwyer’sfee.Hecouldnhimselftothinkaboutalltheexpenses,buthecalcutedtoothatitmighthavebeenworse;thecourthadacquittedhimoherts.
Ashereadthejudgemeagrowingheavinessanddisfortinhisstomach.Thissurprisedhim.Asthetrialbeganhekhatitwouldtakeamiratoescapevi,andhehadbeereciledtotheoute.Hesatthroughthetwodaysofthetrialsurprisinglycalm,andforelevenmoredayshewaited,withoutfeelinganythinginparticur,forthecourttofinishdeliberatingandtoeupwiththedothenowheldinhishand.Itwasonlynohysieasewashedoverhim.
Wheookabiteofhissandwich,thebreadseemedtoswellupinhismouth.Hecouldhardlyswalloushedhispteaside.
ThiswasthefirsttimethatBlomkvisthadfaycharge.Thejudgementwasatrifle,retivelyspeaking.Alightweightcrime.Notarmedrobbery,murder,orrapeafterall.Fromafinancialpointofview,however,itwasserious—Millenniumwasnotafgshipofthemediaworldwithunlimitedresources,themagazinebarelybrokeeven—butthejudgementdidnotspellcatastrophe.TheproblemwasthatBlomkvistwasoneofMillennium’spartowners,andatthesametime,idioticallyenough,hewasbothawriterandthemagazine’spublisher.Thedamagesof150,000kronorhewouldpayhimself,althoughthatwouldjustaboutwipeouthissavings.Themagazinewouldtakecareofthecourtcosts.Withprudentbudgetingitwouldworkout.
Hepohewisdomofsellinghisapartment,thoughitwouldbreakhisheart.Attheendofthego-goeighties,duringaperiodwhenhehadasteadyjobandaprettygoodsary,hehadlookedaroundforapermapcetolive.Heranfromoneapartmentshowingtoanotherbeforehestumbledonanatticftof700squarefeetrightattheendofBellmansgatan.Thepreviousownerwasinthemiddleofmakingitliveablebutsuddenlygotajobatadot-panyabroad,andBlomkvistwasabletobuyitinexpensively.
Herejectedtheinalinteriordesigner’ssketchesandfiheworkhimself.Heputmoofixingupthebathroomaarea,butinsteadofputtinginaparquetfloorandinteriorwallstomakeitintothepwo-roomapartment,hesahefloor-boards,whitewashedtheroughwalls,andhidtheworstpatchesbehindtwowatercoloursbyEmanuelBernstoheresultenlivingspace,withthebedroomareabehindashelf,andthediningareaandthelivingroomothesmallkitbehindater.TheapartmenthadtwodormerwindowsandagablewindowwithaviewoftherooftopstamStan,Sto’soldestse,aerofRiddarfj?rden.HehadaglimpseofwaterbytheSlussenlodaviewofCityHall.Todayhewouldneverbeabletoaffordsuapartment,andhebadlywaoholdontoit.
Butthathemightlosetheapartmentwasnothingbesidethefactthatprofessionallyhehadreceivedarealsmathewouldtakealongtimetorepairthedamage—ificouldeverberepaired.
Itwasamatteroftrust.Fortheforeseeablefuture,editorswouldhesitatetopublishastoryunderhisbyliillhadplentyoffriendsinthebusinesswhowouldaeptthathehadfallenvictimtobadludunusualcircumstances,buthewasneveragaingoingtobeabletomaketheslightestmistake.
Whathurtmostwasthehumiliation.Hehadheldallthetrumpsahehadlosttoasemi-gangsterinanArmanisuit.Adespicablestock-marketspecutor.Ayuppiewithacelebritywyerwhosneeredhiswaythroughthewholetrial.
HowinGod’shingsgones?
TheWer?maffairhadstartedoutwithsuiseinthecockpitofathirty-seven-footM?r-30onMidsummerEveayearandahalfearlier.Itbeganbyce,allbecauseaformerjournalistcolleague,noRflunkyatthetycil,waoimpresshisnewgirlfriend.HehadrashlyhiredaScampiforafewdaysofromanticsailingioarchipego.Thegirlfriend,justarrivedfromHallstahammartostudyinSto,hadagreedtotheoutingafterputtinguptokeaonlyifhersisterandhersister’sboyfriendcouldetoo.hetriofromHallstahammarhadanysailingexperiendunfortunatelyBlomkvist’soldcolleaguehadmoreenthusiasmthanexperiehreedaysbeforetheysetoffhehadcalledindesperationandpersuadedhimtoeasafifthcrewmember,onewhoknewnavigation.
Blomkvisthadnotthoughtmuchoftheproposal,buthecamearoundwhenpromisedafewdaysofrexationinthearchipegowithgoodfoodandpleasantpany.Thesepromisescametonaught,andtheexpeditionturomoreofadisasterthanhecouldhaveimagiheyhadsailedthebeautifulbutnotverydramaticroutefromBulnd?upthroughFurusundStraitatbarely9knots,butthenewgirlfriendwasinstantlyseasick.Hersisterstartedarguingwithherboyfriend,andhemshowedtheslightestiinlearningtheleastlittlethingaboutsailing.ItquicklybecameclearthatBlomkvistectedtotakechargeoftheboatwhiletheavehimwell-iiobasicallymeaninglessadvice.Afterthefirstnightinabayon?ngs?hewasreadytodocktheboatatFurusundandtakethebushome.Onlytheirdesperateappealspersuadedhimtostay.
Atnooday,earlyenoughthattherewerestilfewspacesavaible,theytiedupatthevisitors’wharfouresqueisndofArholma.TheyhadthrownsomelunchtogetherandhadjustfinishedwhenBlomkvistnoticedayellowfibregssM-30glidingintothebayusingonlyitsmainsail.Theboatmadeagracefultackwhilethehelmsmanlookedforaspotatthewharf.BlomkvisttoosedthespacearoundandsawthatthegapbetweentheirScampiandanH-boatoarboardsidewastheonlyslotleft.ThenarrowM-30wouldjustfit.HestoodupiernandpoihemanintheM-30raisedahandinthanksandsteeredtowardsthewharf.Alonesailorwhowasnotgoingtobotherstartinguptheengine,Blomkvistnoticed.Heheardtherattleoftheanchorandsedsterthemaincamedown,whiletheskippermovedlikeascaldedcattoguidetherudderstraightfortheslotandatthesametimereadythelinefromthebow.
BlomkvistclimbedupontherailingandheldoutahandforthepaihenewarrivalmadeocoursecorreandglidedperfectlyuptothesternoftheScampi,bynowmovingveryslowly.ItwasonlyasthemantossedthepaioBlomkvistthattheyreisedeachotherandsmiledindelight.
“Hi,Robban.Whydon’tyouuseyinesoyoudon’tscrapethepaintoffalltheboatsintheharbour?”
“Hi,Micke.Ithoughttherewassomethingfamiliaraboutyou.I’dlovetousetheengineifIcouldohepieceofcrapstarted.ItdiedtwodaysagooutbyR?dl?ga.”
Theyshookhandsacrosstherailings.
Aernitybefore,atKungsholmenschoolintheseventies,BlomkvistandRobertLindberghadbeenfriends,evenverygoodfriends.Assooftenhappenswithschoolbuddies,thefriendshipfadedaftertheyhadgoheirseparateways.Theyhadmetmaybehalfadozehepasttwentyyears,thestoneseveyearsago.Nowtheystudiedeachotherwithi.Lindberghadtangledhair,wastannedandhadatwo-week-oldbeard.
Blomkvistimmediatelyfeltinmuchbetterspirits.WhenthePRguyandhissillygirlfrieofftodancearoundtheMidsummerpoleinfrontofthegeneralstoreohersideoftheisayedbehindwithhisherringandaquavitinthecockpitoftheM-30,shootingthebreezewithhisoldschoolpal.
Sometimethatevening,aftertheyhadgivenupthebattlewithArholma’snotoriousmosquitoesandmoveddowntothe,andafterquiteafewshotsofaquavit,theversationturofriendlybanteraboutethithecorporateworld.LindberghadgonefromschooltotheStoSchoolofEidintothebankingbusiness.BlomkvisthadgraduatedfromtheStoSchoolofJournalismaedmuchofhisprofessionallifetoexposingcorruptioninthebankingandbusinessworld.Theirtalkbegantoexplorewhatwasethicallysatisfactoryiaingoldenparachuteagreementsduringtheniies.Lindbergeventuallycededtherewereowoimmoralbastardsinthebusinessworld.HelookedatBlomkvistressionthatwassuddenlyserious.
“Whydon’tyouwriteaboutHans-ErikWer?m?”
“Ididn’tknowtherewasanythingtowriteabouthim.”
“Dig.Dig,fod’ssake.HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheAIAprogramme?”
“Well,itwasasortofassistanmeintheohelpindustryintheformerEasternBloetbatheirfeet.Itwasshutdoleofyearsago.It’snothingI’veeverlookedinto.”
“TheAgencyforIndustrialAssistancerojectthatwasbackedbythestateandadministeredbyrepresentativesofaboutadozenbigSwedishfirms.TheAIAobtainedgoverguaranteesforanumberofprojeitiatedinagreementwiththegoversinPondaics.TheSwedishTradeUnionfederation,LO,alsojoinedinasaguarantorthattheworkers’movementiwouldbestrengthenedaswellbyfollowingtheSwedishmodel.Intheory,itwasanassistanceprojectthatbuiltontheprincipleofhelpforself-help,anditposedtogivetheregimesiheopportunitytorestructuretheireies.Inpractice,however,itmeantthatSwedishpanieswouldgetstatesubventionsfoingiablishingthemselvesaspartownersinpaniesiernEuropeantries.ThatgoddammedmiheChristianpartywasaadvocateoftheAIA,whichwasgoingtosetupapapermillinKrakorovidenewequipmentforametalsindustryinRiga,atfactoryinTallinn,andsoon.ThefundswouldbedistributedbytheAIAboard,whisistedofanumberofheavyweightsfromthebankingandcorporateworld.”
“Soitwastaxmoney?”
“Abouthalfcamefromgovertributions,andthebanksandcorporationsputuptherest.Butitwasfarfromanidealoperation.Thebanksandindustryweretingonmakingasweetprofit.Otherwisetheydamnwellwouldn’thavebothered.”
“Howmueyarewetalkingabout?”
“Holdon,listentothis.TheAIAwasdealingprimarilywithbigSwedishfirmswhowaogetintotheEasternEuropeanmarket.HeavyindustrieslikeASEABrownBoveriandSkanskastruandthelike.Notspecutionfirms,inotherwords.”
“AreyoutelliSkanskadoesn’tdospecution?Wasn’tittheirmanagingdirectorwhowasfiredafterheletsomeofhisboysspecuteawayhalfabillioninquickstockturnovers?AndhowabouttheirhystericalpropertydealsinLondonandOslo?”
“Sure,thereareidiotsineverypanytheworldover,butyouknowwhatImean.Atleastthosepauallyproduething.ThebaeofSwedishindustryandallthat.”
“WheredoesWer?meintothepicture?”
“Wer?misthejokerinthepack.Meaningthathe’saguywhoturnsupoutoftheblue,whohasnobackgroundwhatsoeverinheavyindustry,andwhoreallyhasnobusinessgettinginvolvedintheseprojects.Buthehasamassedacolossalfortuhestockmarketandhasiedinsolidpanies.Hecameinbythebackdoor,sotospeak.”
Ashesattherei,BlomkvistfilledhisgsswithReimersholmsbrandyandleanedback,tryingtorememberwhatlittleheknewaboutWer?m.BornupinNorrnd,whereintheseventieshesetupamentpany.HemademoneyandmovedtoSto,andtherehiscareertookoffiies.HecreatedWer?m-gruppen,theWer?mGroup,wheupoffiLondonandNewYorkandthepanystartedtogetmentiohesamearticlesasBeijer.Hetradedstodoptionsandlikedtomakequickdeals,andheemergedinthecelebritypressasoneofSweden’snumerousbilliohacityhomeonStrandv?gen,afabuloussummervilontheisndofV?rmd?,ay-two-footmotoryachtthatheboughtfromabankruptformertennisstar.Hewasabeanter,naturally,buttheeightieswasthedecadeofthebeantersandpropertyspecutors,andWer?mhadnotmadeasignifitlybigspsh.Orary,hehadremainedsomethingofamanintheshadowsamonghispeers.HeckedJanStenbeck’sfmboyanddidnotspreadhimselfalloverthetabloidslikePercyBarnevik.HesaidgoodbyetorealestateandinsteadmademassiveimentsintheformerEasternBloc.Whenthebubbleburstintheniiesandonemanagingdirectorafteranotherwasforcedtocashinhisgoldenparachute,Wer?m’spanycameoutofitinremarkablygoodshape.“ASwedishsuessstory,”astheFinancialTimescalledit.
“Thatwas1992,”Lindbergsaid.“Wer?mtactedAIAandsaidhewantedfunding.Hepresentedapn,seeminglybackedbyisinPond,whichaimedatestablishinganindustryforthemanufactureofpackagingforfoodstuffs.”
“Atin-dustry,youmean.”
“Notquite,butsomethingalongthoselines.IhavenoideawhohekheAIA,buthewalkedoutwithsixtymillionkronor.”
“Thisisstartingtogetiimeguess:thatwasthestanyonesawofthemoney.”
“Wrong.”Lindberggaveaslysmilebeforehefortifiedhimselfwithafewmoresipsofbrandy.
“peerthatisapieceofcssickeeping.Wer?mreallydidsetupapackagingfactoryinPond,inLódz.ThepanywascalledMinos.AIAreceivedafewenthusiasticreportsduring1993,thensilen1994,Minos,outoftheblue,colpsed.”
Lindbergputhisemptygssdownhaticsmack.
“TheproblemwithAIAwasthattherewasnorealsysteminpceforrepontheprojeemberthosedays:everyonewassooptimistitheBerlinWallcamedown.Democracywasgoingtobeintroduced,thethreatofnuclearwarwasover,andtheBolshevikswouldturninturlittlecapitalistsht.ThegoverwaonaildowndemocratheEast.EverycapitalistwaojumponthebandwagonandhelpbuildthenewEurope.”
“Ididn’tknoitalistsweresoanxioustogetinvolvedincharity.”
“Believeme,ititalist’swetdream.RussiaaernEuropemaybetheworld’sbiggestuntappedmarketsaftera.Industryhadnoproblemjoininghandswiththegover,especiallywhenthepanieswererequiredtoputuponlyatokement.Inall,AIAswallowedaboutthirtybillionkronorofthetaxpayers’moposedtoebafutureprofits.Formally,AIAwasthegover’sinitiative,buttheinfluenceofindustrywassogreatthatinactualfacttheAIAboarderatingindepely.”
“Soisthereastoryinallthis?”
“Bepatient.Whentheprojectstartedthereroblemwithfinang.Swedenhadbeenhitbythei-rateshock.ThegoverytoplugAIAasohebiggestSwedisheffortstopromotedemocratheEast.”
“Andthiswasalluheservativegover?”
“Dopoliticsmixedupinthis.It’salboutmoneyanditmakesnodiffereheSocialDemocratsorthemoderatesappointtheministers.So,fullspeedahead.Thehefn-exgeproblems,andafterthatsomecrazyNewDemocrats—rememberthem?—startedwhiningthattherewasasheofhtinwhatAIAwasinto.OheirhenhadfusedAIAwiththeSwedishIionalDevelopmentAuthorityandthoughtitwasallsomedamndo-gooderprojectliketheoanzania.Inthespringof1994amissionoioiigate.Atthattimethereweresaboutseveralprojects,butohefirsttobeiigatedwasMinos.”
“AndWer?mcouldn’tshowwhatthefundshadbeenusedfor.”
“Farfromit.Heproduexcellewhichshowedthataroundfifty-fourmillionkronorwasiedinMinos.ButitturthatthereweretoomanyhugeadministrativeproblemsinwhatwasleftofPondforamodernpackagingindustrytobeabletofun.InpracticetheirfactorywasshutoutbythepetitionfromasimirGermanproject.TheGermansweredoingtheirbesttobuyuptheeernBloc.”
“Yousaidthathehadbeengivensixtymillionkronor.”
“Exactly.Themoneyservedasa-freeloan.Theidea,ofcourse,wasthatthepanieswouldpaybackpartofthemoneyoveranumberofyears.ButMinoshadgoneunderandWer?mcouldnotbebmedforit.Herethestateguaranteeskickedin,andWer?mwasindemnified.AllheodoaybackthemohatwaslostwhenMiunder,andhecouldalsoshowthathehadlostacorrespondingamountofhisownmoney.”
“LetmeseeifIuandthiscorrectly.Thegoversuppliedbillionsintaxmoney,anddiplomatstoopendoors.Industriesgotthemoneyaoiinjoiuresfromwhichtheyterreapedvastprofits.Inotherwords,businessasusual.”
“You’reaic.Theloansweresupposedtobepaidbacktothestate.”
“Yousaidthattheywerei-free.Sothatmeaaxpayersgotnothingatallforputtingupthecash.Wer?mgotsixtymillion,andiedfifty-fourmillionofit.peheothersixmillion?”
“WhenitbecameclearthattheAIAprojectwasgoingtobeiigated,Wer?msentachequeforsixmilliontoAIAforthedifferehematterwassettled,legallyatleast.”
“ItsoundsasthoughWer?mfritteredawayalittlemoneyforAIA.ButparedwiththehalfbillionthatdisappearedfromSkanskaortheCEOofABB’sgoldenparachuteofmorethanabillionkronor—whichreallyupsetpeople—thisdoesobemuchtowriteabout,”Blomkvistsaid.“Today’sreadersareprettytiredofstoriesaboutispecutors,evenifit’swithpublids.Istheremoretothestory?”
“Itgetsbetter.”
“HowdoyouknowallthisaboutWer?m’sdealsinPond?”
“IworkedatHandelsbaheniies.Guesswhowrotethereportsforthebank’srepresentativeinAIA?”
“Aha.Tellmemore.”
“Well,AIAgottheirreportfromWer?hebahemoneyhadbeenpaidback.Thatsixmillioningbackwasveryclever.”
“Gettothepoint.”
“But,mydearBlomkvist,thatisthepoint.AIAwassatisfiedwithWer?m’sreport.Itwasamentthatwenttohell,buttherewasnocriticismofthewayithadbeenmanaged.Welookedatinvoidtransfersandallthedots.Everythingwasmeticulouslyaountedfor.Ibelievedit.Mybossbelievedit.AIAbelievedit,andthegoverhadnothingtosay.”
“Where’sthehook?”
“Thisiswherethestetsticklish,”Lindbergsaid,lookingsurprisinglysober.“Andsinceyou’reajournalist,thisisofftherecord.”
“eoffit.You’tsittheretellihisstuffandthensayI’tuseit.”
“Icertainly.WhatI’vetoldyousofarisinthepublicrecord.Youlookupthereportifyouwant.Therestofthestory—whatIhaven’ttoldyou—youwriteabout,butyou’llhavetotreatmeasananonymoussource.”
“OK,but‘offtherecord’incurrentterminologymeansthatI’vebeentoldsomethinginfidend’twriteaboutit.”
“Screwtheterminology.Writewhateverthehellyouwant,butI’myouranonymoussource.Areweagreed?”
“Ofcourse,”Blomkvistsaid.
Inhindsight,thiswasamistake.
“Allrightthen.TheMinosstorytookpcemorethanadecadeago,justaftertheWallcamedownandtheBolsheviksstartingaglikedetcapitalists.IwasohepeoplewhoiigatedWer?m,andthewholetimeIthoughttherewassomethingdamnedoddabouthisstory.”
“Whydidn’tyousaysowhenyousignedoffonhisreport?”
“Idiscusseditwithmyboss.Buttheproblemwasthattherewasn’tanythingtopinpoint.ThedotswereallOK,Ihadonlytosignthereport.EverytimeI’veseenWer?m’shepresssihenIthinkaboutMinos,andbecausesomeyearster,inthemid-niies,mybankwasdoingsomebusinesswithWer?m.Prettybigbusiness,actually,anditdidn’tturnoutsowell.”
“Hecheatedyou?”
“No,nothingthatobvious.Webothmademohedeals.Itwasmorethat…Idon’tknowquitehowtoexpinit,andnowI’mtalkingaboutmyownemployer,andIdon’twanttodothat.Butwhatstruckme—thestingandoverallimpression,astheysay—wasnotpositive.Wer?mispresehemediaasatremendousfinancialoracle.Hethrivesonthat.It’shis‘trustcapital.’”
“Iknowwhatyoumean.”
“Myimpressionwasthatthemanwasallbluff.Hewasn’tevenparticurlybrightasafinancier.Infact,Ithoughthewasdamnedignorantaboutcertainsubjectsalthoughhehadsomereallysharpyoungwarriorsforadvisers.Aboveall,Ireallydidn’tcareforhimpersonally.”
“So?”
“AfewyearsagoIwentdowntoPondohermatter.rouphaddihsomeiorsinLódz,andIfoundmyselfatthesametableasthemayor.WetalkedaboutthedifficultyofgettingPond’seyonitsfeetandallthat,andsomehoworotherImentioheMinosproject.Themayorlookedquiteastonishedforamoment—asifhehadneverheardofMinos.Hetoldmeitwassomecrummylittlebusinessandnothingevercameofit.Heughedandsaid—I’mquotingwordforword—thatifthatwasthebestouriorsahenSwedenwasn’tlongforthislife.Areyoufollowingme?”
“ThatmayorofLódzisobviouslyasharpfellow,butgoon.”
“ThedayIhadameetinginthem,buttherestofmydaywasfree.ForthehellofitIdroveouttolookattheshut-downMinosfactoryinasmalltownoutsideofLódz.ThegiantMinosfactorywasaram-shacklestructure.AcatedironstebuildingthattheRedArmyhadbuiltiies.IfoundawatonthepropertywhocouldspeakalittleGermananddiscoveredthatoneofhiscousinshadworkedatMinosaovertohishousenearby.Thewatinterpreted.Areyouiedinhearingwhathehadtosay?”
“Ihardlywait.”
“Minosopeheautumnof1992.Therewereatmostfifteenemployees,themajorityofthemoldwomen.Theirpaywasaroundonehundredfiftykronoramonth.Atfirsttherewerenomaes,sotheworkforcespeimeingupthepearlyOctoberthreecardboardboxmaesarrivedfral.Theywereoldaelyobsolete.Thescrapvaluecouldn’thavebeehahousandkronor.Themaesdidwork,buttheykeptbreakingdown.Naturallytherewerenospareparts,soMinossufferedeoppages.”
“Thisisstartingtosoundlikeastory,”Blomkvistsaid.“WhatdidtheymakeatMinos?”
“Throughout1992andhalfof1993theyproducedsimplecardboardboxesforwashingpowdersandeggcartonsandthelike.Theartedmakingpaperbags.Butthefactorycouldenoughrawmaterials,sotherewasneveraquestionofmueofprodu.”
“Thisdoesn’tsoundlikeagigantivestment.”
“Iranthehetotalrentmusthavebeenaround15,000kronorfortwoyears.Wagesmayhaveamouo150,000SEKatmost—andI’mbeinggeneroushere.aesandcostht…avantodelivertheeggcartons…I’mguessing250,000.Addfeesforpermits,alittletravellingbadforth—apparentlyonepersonfromSwedendidvisitthesiteafewtimes.Itlooksasthoughthewholeoperationranforuwomillion.Onedayinthesummerof1993theforemancamedowntothefactoryandsaiditwasshutdown,andawhileteraHungarianlorryappearedandcarriedoffthemaery.Bye-bye,Minos.”
InthecourseofthetrialBlomkvisthadoftenthoughtofthatMidsummerEve.Fepartsoftheevenioheversatiofeesiftheywerebackatschool,havingafriendlyargument.Asteeheyhadsharedtheburdensmontothatstageinlife.Asgrown-upstheywereeffectivelystrangers,bynowquitedifferentsortsofpeople.DurialkBlomkvisthadthoughtthathereallycouldnotrecallwhatitwasthathadmadethemsuchfriendsatschool.HerememberedLindbergasareservedboy,incrediblyshywithgirls.Asanadulthewasasuessful…well,climberinthebankingworld.
Herarelygotdrunk,butthatcemeetinghadtransformedadisastroussailingtripintoapleasantevening.Andbecausetheversationhadsomuechoofaschoolboytone,hedidnotatfirsttakeLindberg’sstoryaboutWer?mseriously.Graduallyhisprofessionalinstinctswerearoused.Eventuallyhewaslisteningattentively,andthelogicalobjessurfaced.
“Waitased,”hesaid.“Wer?misatopnameamongmarketspecutors.He’smadehimselfabillion,hashenot?”
“TheWer?mGroupissittingonsomewhereclosetotwohundredbillion.Yoingtoaskwhyabillionaireshouldgotothetroubleofswindlingatriflingfiftymillion.”
“Well,putitthisouldheriskhisownandhispany’sgoodnameonsuchabtantswindle?”
“Itwasn’tsoobviouslyaswindlegiventhattheAIAboard,thebahegover,andParliament’sauditorsalpprovedWer?m’saountingwithoutasingledissentingvote.”
“It’sstilridiculouslysmallsumforsovastarisk.”
“Certainly.Butjustthink:theWer?mGroupisamentpanythatdealswithproperty,securities,options,fnexge…you.Wer?mtactedAIAin1992justasthebottomwasabouttodropoutofthemarket.Doyouremembertheautumnof1992?”
“DoI?Ihadavariable-ratemeonmyapartmeheirateshotupfivehundredpertinOctober.Iwasstuckwithnieenpertiforayear.”
“Thosewereihedays,”Lindbergsaid.“Ilostabuyearmyself.AndHans-ErikWer?m—likeeveryotherpyerinthemarket—waswrestlingwiththesameproblem.Thepanyhadbillionstiedupinpaperofvarioustypes,butnotsomuchcash.Allofasuddentheycouldnolongerborrowanyamounttheyliked.Theusualthinginsuchasituationistounloadafewpropertiesandlickyourwounds,butin1992nobodywaobuyrealestate.”
“Cash-flowproblems.”
“Exactly.AndWer?mwasn’ttheonlyone.Everybusinessman…”
“Don’tsaybusinessman.Callthemwhatyoulike,butcallingthembusinessmenisaninsulttoaseriousprofession.”
“Allright,everyspecutorhadcash-flowproblems.Lookatitthisway:Wer?mgotsixtymillionkronor.Hepaidbacksixmil,butonlyafterthreeyears.Therealinosdidomorethantwomillioerestaloneonsixtymillionforthreeyears,that’squiteabit.Dependingonhowheiedthemoney,hemighthavedoubledtheAIAmoney,ormaybegrowimesover.Thenwe’renoloalkingaboutcatshit.Sk?l,bytheway.”
CHAPTER2
Friday,December20
DraganArmanskywasborninCroatiafifty-sixyearsago.HisfatherwasanArmenianJewfromBelorussia.HismotherwasaBosnianMuslimofGreekextra.Shehadtakenchargeofhisupbringingandhiseducation,whichmeantthatasanadulthewaslumpedtogetherwiththatrge,heterogeneousgroupdefihemediaasMuslims.TheSwedishimmigrationauthoritieshadregisteredhim,strangelyenough,asaSerb.HispassportfirmedthathewasaSwedishcitizen,andhispassportphotographshowedasquarishface,astrongjaw,five-o’clockshadow,andgreyingtemples.Hewasoftenreferredtoas“TheArab,”althoughhedidnothaveadropofArabblood.
HelookedalittlelikethestereotypicallocalbossinanAmerigangstermovie,butinfacthewasatalentedfinancialdirectorwhohadbegunhiscareerasajunioraountantatMiltonSecurityintheearlysevehreedecadesterhehadadvaodCOOofthepany.
Hehadbeefasatedwiththesecuritybusiness.Itwaslikewargames—toidentifythreats,developter-strategies,andallthetimestayoepaheadoftheindustrialspies,bckmailersandthieves.Itbeganforhimwhenhediscoveredhowtheswindlingofathadbeenacplishedthroughcreativekeeping.Hewasabletoprovewhroupofadozenpeople,wasbehindit.Hehadbeenpromotedandpyedakeyroleinthefirm’sdevelopmentandertinfinancialfraud.FifteeerhebecameCEO.HehadtransformedMiltonSecurityintooneofSweden’smostpetentandtrustedsecurityfirms.
Thepanyhad380full-timeemployeesandanother300freencers.ItwassmallparedtoFalckorSwedishGuardService.WhenArmanskyfirstjoihepanywascalledJohanFredrikMilton’sGeneralSecurityAB,andithadatlistsistingofshoppiresthatneededfloorwalkersandmuscurguards.UnderhisleadershipthefirmwasnowtheiionallyreisedMiltonSecurityandhadiedincuttieology.Nightwatwellpasttheirprime,uniformfetishists,andmoonlightinguystudentshadbeenrepcedbypeoplewithrealprofessionalskills.Armanskyhiredmatureex-poliasoperationschiefs,politicalstistsspecialisingiionalterrorism,andexpertsinpersonalproteandindustrialespionage.Mostimportantly,hehiredthebesttelemunicationsteisandITexperts.ThepanymovedfromSolnatostate-of-the-artoffiearSlussen,intheheartofSto.
Bythestartoftheniies,MiltonSecuritywasequippedtoofferanewlevelofsecuritytoanexclusivegroupofts,primarilymedium-sizedcorporationsao-doprivateindividuals—nouveau-richerockstars,stock-marketspecutors,anddot-highflyers.Apartofthepany’sactivityrovidingbodyguardproteandsecuritysolutionstoSwedishfirmsabroad,especiallyintheMiddleEast.Thisareaoftheirbusinessnowaountedfor70pertofthepany’sturnover.UnderArmansky,saleshadincreasedfromaboutfortymillionSEKannuallytoalmosttwobillion.Providingsecuritywasalucrativebusiness.
Operationsweredividedamongthreemainareas:securitysultations,whisistedofidentifyingceivableihreats;ter-measures,whichusuallyinvolvedtheinstaltionofsecuritycameras,burgrandfirearms,eleiclogmeismsandITsystems;andpersonalproteforprivateindividualsorpahisstmarkethadgrownforty