huggedeachotherabacktotheirers.Ortobed.Lastautumnhadnotbeenfun,andnowitwasasifagreatgulfhadopenedupbetweenthem.MalmwonderedifhewaswatgthebeginningoftheendofMillennium.
“Idon’thaveachoice,”Blomkvistsaid.“Wedon’thaveachoice.”
Hepouredhimselfacoffeeandsatatthekittable.Bergershookherheadandsatdownfaghim.
“Whatdoyouthink,Christer?”shesaid.
Hehadbeeingthequestionanddreadingthemomentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastahethirdpartner,buttheyallkhatitwasBlomkvistandBergerwhowereMillennium.Theonlytimetheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.
“Holy,”Malmsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tmatterwhatIthink.”
Heshutup.Helovedmakingpictures.Helovedwwithgraphics.Hehadneversideredhimselfanartist,butheknewhewasadamnedgooddesigner.Oherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.
BergerandBlomkvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.Shewasdfurious.Hewasthinkinghard.
Thisisn’tanargument,Malmthought.It’sadivorce.
“OK,letmepresentmycaseoime,”Blomkvistsaid.“ThisdoesnotmeanI’vegivenuponMillennium.We’vespenttoomuchtimewourheartsoutforthat.”
“Butnowyouwoheoffice—ChristerandIwillhavetocarrytheload.’tyouseethat?You’retheonemargintoself-imposedexile.”
“That’sthesedthing.Ineedabreak,Erika.I’mnotfuninganymore.I’mbur.ApaidsabbatiHedestadmightbeexactlywhatIneed.”
“Thewholethingisidiotic,Mikael.Youmightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”
“Iknow.ButI’mgoingtoget2.4millionforsittingonmybacksideforayear,andIwoingmytime.That’sthethirdthing.RouhWer?misover,andheknockedmeout.RoundTwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkMillenniumfoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillwaysknowwhathe’sbeenupto,foraslongasthemagazis.”
“Iknowwhathe’sdoing.I’veseenitihlyadsalesfiguresforthestsixmonths.”
“That’sexactlywhyIhavetogetoutoftheoffice.I’mlikearedragwavingathim.He’sparanoidasfarasI’med.AslongasI’mhere,he’lljustkeeponing.NowwehavetoprepareourselvesforRoundThree.Ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestceagainstWer?m,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholerategy.Wehavetofindsomethingtohammerhimwith.That’llbemyjobthisyear.”
“Iuandallthat,”Bergersaid.“Sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.Goabroad,lieonabeaonth.CheckoutthelovelifeoaBrava.Rex.GoouttoSandhamnandlookatthewaves.”
“AndwhenIebaothingwillbedifferent.Wer?misgoingtocrushMillenniumunlessheisappeasedbymyhavingstooddown.Youknowthat.Theonlythingwhichmightotherwisestophimisifwegetsomethingonhimthatweuse.”
“Andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindiad?”
“Icheckedthecuttings.Wer?mdidworkattheVangerpanyfrom1969to1972.Hewasinmaandwasresponsibleficpts.Heleftinahurry.WhyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythatHenrikVangerdoeshavesomethingonhim?”
“Butifwhathedidhappehirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehardtoproveittoday.”
“Vangerpromisedtosetoutiailwhatheknows.He’sobsessedwiththismissinggirl—itseemstobetheonlythinghe’siedin,andifthismeaoburnWer?mthenIthinkthere’sagoodcehe’lldoit.Wecertainly’tigheopportunity—he’sthefirstpersonwho’ssaidhe’swillingtogoonrecordwithevidenceagainstWer?m.”
“Wecouldn’tuseitevenifyoucamebackwithintrovertibleproofthatitwasWer?mwhledthegirl.Notaftersomanyyears.He’dmassacreusincourt.”
“Thethoughthadcrossedmymind,butit’snogood:heluggingawayattheStoSchoolofEidhadnoewiththeVangerpahetimeshedisappeared.”Blomkvistpaused.“Erika,I’mnotgoingtoleaveMillennium,butit’simportantforittolookasifIhave.YouandChristerhavetogoonrunningthemagazine.Ifyou…ifyouhaveaceteacease-firewithWer?m,thendoit.You’tdothatifI’mstilloorialboard.”
“OK,butit’sarottensituation,andIthinkyraspingatstrawsgoingtoHedestad.”
“Haveyouabetteridea?”
Bergershrugged.“Weoughttostartchasingdownsourcesrightnoddhtthistime.”
“Ricky—thatstoryisdeadasadoornail.”
Dejected,Bergerrestedherheadonherhands.Whenshespoke,atfirstshedidnotwanttomeetBlomkvist’seyes.
“I’msofugangrywithyou.Notbecausethestoryyouwrotewasbaseless—Iwasinonitasmuchasyouwere.Andnotbecauseyou’releavingyourjobaspublisher—that’sasmartdecisioninthissituation.Igoalongwithmakingitlooklikeaschismorapowerstrugglebetweenyouandme—Iuandthelogiit’samatterofmakingWer?mbelieveI’maharmlessbimboandyou’retherealthreat.”Shepausedandnowlookedhimresolutelyintheeye.“ButIthinkyou’remakingamistake.Wer?misn’tgoingtofallforit.He’sgoingtokeeporoyingMillennium.Theonlydifferehatstartingfromtoday,Ihavetofighthimalone,andyouknowthatyou’reneededmorethaheeditorialboard.OK,I’dlovetowagewaragainstWer?m,butwhatmakesmesocrossisthatyou’reabandoningshipallofasudden.You’releavihelurchwhenthingsareabsolutelyattheirworstever.”
Blomkvistreachedacrossandstrokedherhair.
“You’renotalone.You’vegotChristeraofthestaffbehindyou.”
“NotJanneDahlman.Bytheway,Ithinkyoumadeamistakehiringhim.He’spetent,buthedoesmoreharmthangood.Idon’ttrusthidon’tknowifhehopeshetakeoveryourroleorwhetherit’sjustpersonalchemistrybetweenhimaofthestaff.”
“I’mafraidyht,”Blomkvistsaid.
“SowhatshouldIdo?Firehim?”
“Erika,you’reeditorinchiefandtheseniorshareholderofMillennium.Ifyouhaveto,firehim.”
“We’veneverfiredanyone,Micke.Andnowyou’redumpingthisdeetoo.It’snofunanymoingtotheoffithem.”
AtthatpointMalmsurprisedthembystandingup.
“Ifyoingtocatchthattrainwe’vegottogetmoving.”Bergerbegantoprotest,butheheldupahand.“Wait,Erika,youaskedmewhatIthought.Well,Ithiuationisshitty.ButifthingsarethewayMikaelsays—thathe’sabouttohitthewall—thenhereallydoeshavetoleaveforhisownsake.Weowehimthatmuch.”
TheystaredatMalminastonishmentandhegaveBlomkvistanembarrassedlook.
“Youbothknowthatit’syoutwowhoareMillennium.I’mapartnerandyou’vealwaysbeenfairwithmeandIlovethemagazineandallthat,butyoucouldeasilyrepcemewithsomeotherartdirector.Butsinceyouaskedformyopinion,thereyouhaveit.AsfarasDahlmanised,Iagreewithyou.Andifyouwanttofirehim,Erika,thenI’lldoitforyou.Aslongaswehaveacrediblereason.Obviouslyit’sextremelyunfortuMikael’sleavingrightnow,butIdon’tthinkwehaveachoice.Mikael,I’lldriveyoutothestation.ErikaandIwillholdthefortuntilyougetback.”
“WhatI’mafraidofisthatMikaelwon’tevereback,”Bergersaidquietly.
ArmanskywokeupSanderwhenhecalledherat1:30iernoon.
“What’sthisabout?”shesaid,drunkwithsleep.Hermouthtastedliketar.
“MikaelBlomkvist.Ijusttalkedtoourt,thewyer,Frode.”
“So?”
“HecalledtosaythatwedroptheiigationofWer?m.”
“Dropit?ButI’vejuststartedwonit.”
“Frodeisn’tiedanymore.”
“Justlikethat?”
“He’stheonewhodecides.”
“Weagreedonafee.”
“Howmuchtimehaveyouputin?”
Sahoughtaboutit.“Threefulldays.”
“Weagreedonaceilingoffortythousandkronor.I’llwriteaninvoicefortenthousand;you’llgethalf,whichisaeptableforthreedaysoftimewasted.He’llhavetopaybecausehe’stheonewhoinitiatedthewholething.”
“WhatshouldIdowiththematerialI’vegathered?”
“Isthereanythingdramatic?”
“No.”
“Frodedidn’taskforareport.Putitontheshelfincaseheesback.Otherwiseyoushredit.I’llhaveanewjobforyouweek.”
SaforawhileholdielephoerArmanskyhungup.Shewenttoherworkerinthelivingroomandlookedatthenotesshehadpinneduponthewalndthepapersshehadstackedonthedesk.WhatshehadmaocollectwasmostlypresscuttingsandarticlesdownloadedfromtheInter.Shetookthepapersanddroppedtheminadeskdrawer.
Shefrowned.Blomkvist’sstrangebehaviourinthecourtroomhadpresentedaingchallenge,andSanderdidnotlikeabanassigonceshehadstarted.Peoplealwayshavesecrets.It’sjustamatteroffindingoutwhattheyare.
PART2
sequenalyses
JANUARY3–MARCH17
Forty-sixpertofthewomeninSwedenhavebeensubjectedtoviolencebyaman.
CHAPTER8
Friday,January3–Sunday,January5
WhenBlomkvistalightedfromhistraiadforthesedtime,theskyastelblueandtheairicycold.Thethermometeronthewallofthestationsaid0°F.Hewaswearingunsuitablewalkingshoes.Unlikeonhispreviousvisit,therewasnoHerrFrodewaitingwithawarmcar.Blomkvisthadtoldthemwhichdayhewouldarrive,butnotonwhichtrain.HeassumedtherewasabustoHedeby,buthedidnotfeellikestrugglingwithtwoheavysuitcasesandashoulderbag,sohecrossedthesquaretothetaxistand.
IthadsnowedmassivelyallongtheNorrndcoastbetweenChristmasandNewYear’s,andjudgingbytheridgesandpilesofsnowthrownupbytheploughs,theroadteamshadbeenoutinfullforHedestad.Thetaxidriver,whosename,atohisIDpostedonthewindow,wasHussein,noddedwhenBlomkvistaskedwhethertheyhadbeenhavingroughweather.InthebroadestNorr,hereportedthatithadbeentheworstsnowstormindecades,aerlyregrettednottakinghisholidayinGreeceovertheChristmasperiod.
BlomkvistdirectedhimtoHenrikVanger’snewlyshovelledcourtyard,whereheliftedhissuitcasesontothecobblestonesandwatchedthetaxiheadbacktowardsHedestad.Hesuddelonelyanduain.
Heheardthedooropenbehindhim.Vangerwasedupinaheavyfurcoat,thickboots,andacapwithearfps.Blomkvistwasinjeansandathiherjacket.
“Ifyoingtoliveuphere,youolearntodressmorewarmlyforthistimeofyear.”Theyshookhands.“Areyousureyoudon’twanttostayinthemainhouse?No?ThenIthinkwe’dbetterstartgettingyousettledintoyournewlodgings.”
OheditionsinhisiationswithVangerandDirchFrodehadbeenthathehavelivingquarterswherehecoulddohisownhousekeepingandeandgoashepleased.VangerledBlomkvistbackalongtheroadtowardsthebridgeauroopeetoanothernewlyshovelledcourtyardinfrontofasmalltimberedhouseclosetotheendofthebridge.Thehousewasnotlocked.TheysteppedintoamodesthallwaywhereBlomkvist,withasighofrelief,putdownhissuitcases.
“Thisiswhatwecalluesthouse.It’swhereweusuallyputpeopleupwhoingtostayforalongerperiodoftime.Thiswaswhereyouandyourparentslivedin1963.It’soheoldestbuildingsinthevilge,butit’sbeenmodernised.IaskedNilsson,mycaretaker,tolightthefirethism.”
Thehousesistedekitandtwosmallerrooms,totallingabout500squarefeet.Thekittookuphalfthespadwasquitemodern,witharicstoveandasmallrefrigeratainstthewallfagthefrontdoorstoodanoldcast-ironstoveinwhichafirehadindeedbeenlitearlierintheday.
“Youdoousethewoodstoveugetsbitterlycold.Thefirewoodbinisthereinthehallway,andyou’llfindawoodshedattheback.Thehousehasbeenunlived-inthisautumn.Theelectricheatersareusuallysuffit.Justmakesureyoudon’thanganyclothesonthem,oritmaystartafire.”
Blomkvistlookedaround.Windowsfacedthreedifferentdires,andfromthekittablehehadaviewofthebridge,aboutahundredfeetaway.Thefurnishingsiincludedthreebigcupboards,somekitchairs,anoldbendashelfforneers.OntopwasanissueofSeefrom1967.Inoneerwasasmallertablethatcouldbeusedasadesk.
Twonarrowdoorsledtosmallerrooms.Theoheright,closesttotheoutsidewall,washardlymorethanacubbyholewithadesk,achair,andsomeshelvesalongthewall.Theotherroom,betweenthehallwayaleoffice,wasaverysmallbedroomwithanarrowdoublebed,abedsidetable,andawardrobe.Onthewallshungndscapepaintings.Thefurnitureandaperinthehousewerealloldandfaded,butthepcesmellednid.Someonehadworkedoverthefloorwithadoseofsoap.Thebedroomhadanotherdoortothehallway,whereastoreroomhadbeenvertedintoabathroomwithashower.
“Youmayhaveaproblemwiththewater,”Vangersaid.“Wecheckeditthism,butthepipesaren’tburiedverydeep,andifthiscoldhangstheymayfreeze.There’sabucketinthehallwaysoeupaerfromusifyouo.”
“I’llelephone,”Blomkvistsaid.
“I’vealreadyorderedohey’llbeheretoinstallitthedayaftertomorrow.So,whatdoyouthink?Ifyougeyourmind,youwouldbeweleinthemainhouseatanytime.”
“Thiswillbejustfine,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Excellent.Wehaveanotherhourorsoofdaylightleft.Shallwetakeawalksoyoufamiliariseyourselfwiththevilge?MightIsuggestthatyouputonsomeheavysodapairofboots?You’llfihefrontdoor.”Blomkvistdidashesuggestedanddecidedthattheverydayhewouldgoshoppingfunderairofgoodwintershoes.
TheoldmanstartedthetourbyexpiningthatBlomkvist’sneighbouracrosstheroadwasGunnarNilsson,theassistantwhomVangerinsistedoncalling“thecaretaker.”ButBlomkvistsoonrealisedthathewasmoreofasuperinteforallthebuildingsonHedebyIsnd,andhealsohadresponsibilityforseveralbuildingsiad.
“HisfatherwasMagnusNilsson,whowasmycaretakeriies,ohemenwhohelpedoutattheaidentonthebridge.Magnusisretiredandlivesiad.Gunnarlivesherewithhiswife,whosenameisHelena.Theirchildrenhavemovedout.”
Vangerpausedforamomenttoshapewhathewouldsay,whichwas:“Mikael,theofficialexpnationforyourpresencehereisthatyoingtohelpmewritemyautobiography.Thatwillgiveyouanexcuseforpokingaroundinallthedarkersandaskiions.ThereassigisstrictlybetweenyouandmeandDirchFrode.”
“Iuand.AndI’llrepeatwhatIsaidbefore:Idon’tthinkI’mgoingtobeabletosolvethemystery.”
“AllIaskisthatyoudoyourbest.Butwemustbecarefulwhatwesayinfrontofanyoneelse.Gunnarisfifty-six,whichmeansthathewasnieenwhenHarrietdisappeared.There’soionthatIanswered—HarrietandGunnarweregoodfriends,andIthinksomesortofchildishromaoweenthem.Herettyiedianyrate.Butonthedayshedisappeared,hewasiad;hewasohosestrahemainnd.Becauseoftheirretionship,hecameunderclosescrutiny.Itwasquiteunpleasantforhim.Hewaswithsomefriendsallday,andhedidbackhereuntilevening.Thepolicecheckedhisalibianditwasairtight.”
“Iassumethatyouhavealistofeveryonewhowasontheisndandwhateverybodywasdoingthatday.”
“That’scorrect.Shallwegoon?”
Theystoppedatthecrossroadsonthehill,andVangerpointeddowntowardstheoldfishingharbour,nowusedforsmallboats.
“AllthendonHedebyIsndisowheVangerfamily—orbyme,tobemoreprecise.Theoneexceptionisthefarmndat?sterg?rdenandafewhouseshereinthevilge.Thesdowthefishingharbourareprivatelyowned,butthey’resummercottagesalyvatdurier.Exceptforthathousefarthestaway—youseesmokeingfromtheey.”
Blomkvistsawthesmokerising.Hewasfrozentothebone.
“It’samiserablydraughtyhovelthatfunsaslivingquartersyear-round.That’swhereEugenNormanlives.He’sinhisteseventiesandisapainterofsorts.Ithinkhisworkiskitsch,buthe’sratherwellknownasandscapepainter.Youmightcallhimtheobligatoryeentrithevilge.”
VangerguidedBlomkvistouttowardsthepoint,identifyingonehouseaftertheother.Thevilgesistedofsixbuildingsosideoftheroadandfouro.Thefirsthouse,closesttoBlomkvist’sguesthouseandtheVae,belooHenrikVanger’sbrotherHarald.Itwasaregur,two-storeystonebuildingwhichatfirstgnceseemedunoupied.Thecurtainsweredrawnahtothefrontdoorhadnotbeencleared;itwascoveredwithafootandahalfofsnow.Onsedgheycouldseethefootprintsofsomeonewhohadtrudgedthroughthesnowfromtheroaduptothedoor.
“Haraldisarecluse.HeandIhaveneverseeoeye.Apartfromourdisagreementsoverthefirm—he’sashareholder—we’vebarelyspokentoeachotherinnearly60years.He’sniy-twonow,andtheonlyoneofmyfourbrothersstillive.I’lltellyouthedetailster,buthetraiobeadoctoramostofhisprofessionallifeinUppsa.HemovedbacktoHedebywheury.”
“Youdon’tcaremuchforeachother,ayou’reneighbours.”
“Ifindhimdetestable,andIwouldhaveratherhe’dstayedinUppsa,butheownsthishouse.DoIsoundlikeasdrel?”
“Yousoundlikesomeonewhodoesn’tmuchlikehisbrother.”
“Ispentthefirsttwenty-fiveyearsofmylifeapologisingforpeoplelikeHaraldbecausewe’refamily.ThenIdiscoveredthatbeiedisnoguaranteeofloveandIhadfewreasonstodefendHarald.”
ThehousebelooIsabel,HarrietVanger’smother.
“She’llbeseventy-fivethisyear,ailsstylishandvainasever.She’salsotheonlyohevilgewhotalkstoHarald,andoasionallyvisitshim,buttheydon’thavemumon.”
“HowwasherretionshipwithHarriet?”
“Goodquestion.Thewomeobeincludedamongthesuspects.Itoldyouthatshemostlyleftthechildrentotheirowndevices.I’tbesure,butIthinkherheartwasintherightpce;shejustwasn’tcapableoftakingresponsibility.SheandHarrietwereneverclose,buttheyweren’teher.Isabelbetough,butsometimesshe’snotallthere.You’llseewhatImeanwhenyoumeether.”
Isabel’sneighbourwasCeciliaVahedaughterofHarald.
“Shewasmarriedondlivediad,butsheandherhusbandseparatedsometwentyyearsago.Iownthehouseandofferedtolethermoveieacher,andinmanywaysshe’sthedirectoppositeofherfather.Imightaddthatsheaherspeaktoeachotheronlywhennecessary.”
“Howoldisshe?”
“Bornin1946.SoshewastwentywhenHarrietdisappeared.Andyes,shewasoheguestsontheisndthatday.Ceciliamayseemflighty,butinfactshe’sshrewderthanmost.Don’tuimateher.Ifanyone’sgoingtoferretoutwhatyou’reupto,she’stheone.Imightaddthatshe’soneofmyretivesforwhomIhavethehighestregard.”
“Doesthatmeanthatyoudon’tsuspecther?”
“Iwouldn’tsaythat.Iwantyoutopohematterwithoutanystraints,regardlessofwhatIthinkorbelieve.”
ThehouseclosesttoCecilia’swasalsoownedbyHenrikVanger,butitwasleasedtoanelderlycoupleformerlypartofthemateamoftheVangerpaheyhadmovedtoHedebyIsndiies,sotheyhadnothingtodowithHarriet’sdisappearahehousewasownedbyBirgerVanger,Cecilia’sbrother.ThehousehadbeeyformanyyearssinceBirgermovedtoamodernhouseiad.
Mostofthebuildingsliningtheroadweresolidstoructuresfromtheearlytwehtury.Thesthousewasofadifferenttype,amodern,architect-designedhomebuiltofwhitebrickwithbdowframes.Itwasiifulsituation,andBlomkvistcouldseethattheviewfromthetopfloormustbemagnifit,fagtheseatotheeastaadtothenorth.
“ThisiswhereMartinlives—Harriet’sbrotherandtheVangerCorporatioheparsonageusedtobehere,butthatbuildingwasdestroyedbyafireintheseventies,andMartinbuiltthishousein1978wheookoverasCEO.”
IbuildingosideoftheroadlivedGerdaVanger,widowofHenrik’sbrer,andherson,Alexander.
“Gerdaissickly.Shesuffersfromrheumatism.AlexanderownsasmallshareoftheVangerCorporation,butherunsanumberofhisownbusinesses,includiaurants.HeusuallyspendsafewmonthseachyearinBarbados,wherehehasiedasiderablesumiouristtrade.”
BetweenGerda’sandHenrik’shouseslotofndwithtwosmaller,emptybuildings.Theywereusedasguesthousesforfamilymembers.OhersideofHenrik’shousestoodaprivatedwellingwhereairedemployeelivedwithhiswife,butittyierwhenthecouplerepairedtoSpain.
Theyreturhecrossroads,andwiththatthetourwasover.Duskwasbeginningtofall.Blomkvisttooktheinitiative.
“Henrik,I’lldowhatI’vebeeodo.I’llwriteyourautobiography,andI’llhumouryoubyreadingallthemateriaboutHarrietascarefullyandcriticallyasI.IjustwantyoutorealisethatI’mnotaprivatedetective.”
“Iexpeothing.”
“Fine.”
“I’manightowl,”Vangersaid.“SoI’matyourdisposanytimeafterlunch.I’lrrangeforyoutohaveanofficeuphere,andyoumakeuseofitwheneveryoulike.”
“No,thankyou.Ihaveanoffitheguesthouse,andthat’swhereI’lldomywork.”
“Asyouwish.”
“IfIalktoyou,we’lldoitinyouroffice,butI’mnotgoingtostartthrowiionsatyoutonight.”
“Iuand.”Theoldmanseemedimprobablytimid.
“It’sgoingtotakeacoupleofweekstoreadthroughthepapers.We’llworkontwofronts.We’llmeetforafewhourseachdaysothatIterviewyouandgathermaterialforyraphy.WhenIstarthaviionsaboutHarrietwhieedtodiscusswithyou,I’llletyouknow.”
“Thatsoundssensible.”
“I’mgoingtorequireafreehandtodomywork,andIwon’thaveaworkhours.”
“Youdecideforyourselfhowtheworkshouldbedone.”
“Isupposeyou’reawarethatIhavetospendacoupleofmonthsinprison.Idon’tklywhen,butI’mnotgoingtoappeal.It’llprobablybesometimethisyear.”
Vangerfrowhat’sunfortunate.We’llhavetosolvethatproblemwhenitesup.Youalwaysrequestapostpo.”
“Ifit’spermittedandIhaveenoughmaterial,Imightbeabletoworkonyourinprison.Onemorething:I’mstillpartownerofMillenniumandasofnowit’samagazineincrisis.Ifsomethinghappensthatrequiresmypreseo,IwouldhavetodropwhatI’mdoingandgothere.”
“Ididn’ttakeyouonasaserf.IwantyoutodoathhjobontheassigI’vegivenyou,but,ofcourse,yousetyourownscheduleanddotheworkasyouseefit.Ifyouakesometimeoff,feelfreetodoit,butifIfindoutthatyou’renotdoingthework,I’llsiderthatabreachoftract.”
Vangerlookedovertowardsthebridge.Hewasagauntman,andBlomkvistthoughtthathelookedatthatmomentlikeamencholyscarecrow.
“AsfarasMillenniumised,weoughttohaveadiscussionaboutwhatkindofcrisisit’sinaherIhelpinsomeway.”
“ThebestassistanceyouofferistogivemeWer?m’sheadonaptterrighthereandnow.”
“Ohno,I’mnotthinkingofdoingthat.”TheoldmangaveBlomkvistahardlook.“TheonlyreasonyoutookthisjobwasbecauseIpromisedtoexposeWer?m.IfIgiveyouthermationnow,youcouldstopworkonthejobwheneveryoufeltlikeit.I’llgiveyouthermationayearfromnow.”
“Henrik,fivemeforsayingthis,butI’tbesurethatayearfromnowyou’llbealive.”
Vangersighedandcastathoughtfulgazeoverthefishingharbour.
“Fairenough.I’lltalktoFrodeandseeifweworksomethingout.ButasfarasMillenniumised,Imightbeabletohelpinanotherway.AsIuandit,theadvertisershavebeguntopullout.”
“Theadvertisersaretheimmediateproblem,butthecrisisgoesdeeperthanthat.It’samatteroftrust.Itdoesn’tmatterhowmanyadvertiserswehaveifno-ostobuythemagazine.”
“Irealisethat.I’mstillontheboardofdirectorsofquiteargecorporation,albeitinapassiverole.Wehavetopceadvertisementssomewhere.Let’sdiscussthematteratsomestage.Wouldyouliketohavedinner…”
“No.Iwanttogetsettled,buysomegroceries,andtakealookaround.TomorrowI’llgotoHedestadandshopforwinterclothes.”
“Goodidea.”
“I’dlikethefilesaboutHarriettobemovedovertomypce.”
“Theyobehandled…”
“Withgreatcare—Iuand.”
Blomkvistreturheguesthouse.Histeethwerechatteringbythetimehegotindoors.Thethermometeroutsidethewindowsaid5°F,andhecouldn’tremembereverfeelingsocoldasafterthatwalk,whichhadstedbarelytwentyminutes.
Hespentanhoursettlinghimselfintowhatwastobehishomefortheingyear.Heputhisclothesinthewardrobeinthebedroom,histoiletrieswentihroomcabi.Hissedsuitcasewasactuallyatrunkonwheels.Fromithetooks,daCDpyer,notes,aSanyotaperecorder,aMicrotekser,aportableiprinter,aMinoltadigitalcamera,andanumberofotheritemsheregardedasessentialkitforayearinexile.
HearrahesandthetheshelfintheofficealongsidetwobinderstainingresearchmaterialonHans-ErikWer?m.Thematerialwasuseless,buthecouldgo.Somehowhehadtoturnthosetwofoldersintobuildingblocksforhistinuingcareer.
Finallyheopenedhisshoulderbagandputhisionthedeskintheoffice.Theoppedandlookedabouthimwithasheepishexpression.Thebesoflivinginthetryside,forsooth.Therewasopluginthebroadbandcable.Hedidnoteveelephonejacktoeolddial-upmodem.
BlomkvistcalledtheTeliatelephonepanyfromhismobile.Afteraslighthassle,hemaogetsomeoofindtheorderthatVangerhadpcedfuesthouse.HewaoknowwhethertheecouldhandleADSLandwastoldthatitwouldbepossiblebywayofareyinHedeby,andthatitwouldtakeseveraldays.
Itwasafter4:00bythetimeBlomkvistwasdoonapairofthicksodtheborrowedbootsandpulledorasweater.Atthefrontdoorhestoppedshort;hehadbeengiveothehouse,andhisbig-cityinstinctsrebelledattheideaofleavingthefrontdoorunlocked.Hewentbacktothekitandbeganopeningdrawers.Finallyhefoundakeyhangingfromanailiry.
Thetemperaturehaddroppedto-1°F.Hewalkedbrisklyacrossthebridgeandupthehillpastthechurch.TheKonsumstorewasvelylocatedaboutthreehundredyardsaway.Hefilledterbagstooverflowingwithsuppliesandthencarriedthemhomebeforereturningacrossthebridge.ThistimehestoppedatSusanne’sBridgeCafé.Thewomanbehindtheterwasinherfifties.HeaskedwhethershewasSusahenintroducedhimselfbysayingthathewasundoubtedlygoingturer.Hewasforthetimebeingtheonlyer,andSusanneofferedhimcoffeewhenheorderedsandwichesandboughtaloafofbread.HepickedupacopyoftheHedestadCourierfromtheneerradsatatatablewithaviewofthebridgeandthechurch,itsfaowlitup.ItlookedlikeaChristmascard.Ittookhimaboutfourmioreadtheneer.TheonlynewsofiwasabriefitemexpiningthatalocalpolitibythenameerVangerwasgoingtoiin“ITTet”—ateologydevelopmereiad.Mikaelsatthereuntilthecaféclosedat6:00.
At7:30hecalledBerger,butwasadvisedthatthepartyatthatnumberwasnotavaible.Hesatobendtriedtoreadanovelwhich,atothebackcovertext,wasthesensatioofateenagefeminist.Thenovelwasabouttheauthor’sattempttogetahandleonhersexlifeduringatriptoParis,andBlomkvistwonderedwhetherhecouldbecalledafeministifhewroteahisownsexlifeinthevoiceofahigh-schoolstudent.Probablynot.Hehadboughtthebecausethepublisherhadhailedthefirst-timeas“anewaRydberg.”HequicklyascertaihatthiswasnotthecaseiherstyleorteheasideforawhileandinsteadreadaHopalongCassidystoryinanissueofRekasifromthemid-fifties.
Everyhalfhourheheardthecurt,mutedgofthechurchbell.Lightswerevisibleinthewindowsatthehomeofthecaretakeracrosstheroad,butBlomkvistcouldnotseeanyoneihehouse.HaraldVanger’shousewasdark.Around9:00acardroveacrossthebridgeanddisappearedtowardsthepoint.Atmidnightthelightsonthefacadeofthechurchwereturnedoff.ThatarentlythefullextentoftheeaiinHedebyonaFridaynightinearlyJanuary.Itwaseerilyquiet.
HetriedagaintocallBergerandgothervoicemail,askinghimtoleavehisnameandamessage.Hedidsoaurnedoffthelightaobed.Thestthihoughtaboutbeforehefelsleepwasthathewasgoingtorunahighriskofgoingstir-crazyinHedeby.
Itwasstraoawaketouttersilence.Blomkvistpassedfromdeepsleeptototalertnessinafraofased,aill,listening.Itwascoldintheroowas7:08—hehadneverbeenmuperson,anditusedtobehardforhimtowithouthavingatleasttwoarmclocks.Todayhehadwokenallbyhimself,andheeverested.
Heputsomewateronforcoffeebefettingintotheshower.Hewassuddenlyamusedathissituation.KalleBlomkvist—onaresearchtripinthebackofbeyond.
Theshowerheadgedfromscaldingtoice-coldattheslightesttouch.Therewasnpaperotable.Thebutterwasfrozen.Therewasnocheeseslithedrawerofkitutensils.Itwasstillpitchdarkoutside.Thethermometershowed6belowzero.ItwasSaturday.
ThebusstopforHedestadwasovertheroadfromKonsum,andBlomkviststartedoffhisexilebycarryingouthispntogoshoppingintowoffthebusbytherailwaystationandmadeatourofthetreoftown.Alongthewayheboughtheavywinterboots,twopairsoflongunderwear,severalfnnelshirts,aprh-lengthwinterjacket,awarmcap,andlinedgloves.AttheeleicsstorehefoundasmallportableTVwithrabbitears.ThesalesclerkassuredhimthathewouldatleastbeabletogetSVT,thestateTVel,outatHedeby,andBlomkvistpromisedtoaskforhismoneybackifthatturnottobethecase.
HestoppedatthelibrarytogethimselfacardandborrowedtwomysteriesbyElizabethGee.Heboughtpensandnotes.Healsoboughtarucksackforcarryinghisnewpossessions.
Finallyheboughtapackofcigarettes.Hehadstoppedsmokingtenyearsago,butoasionallyhewouldhavearepse.Hestuckthepahisjacketpocketwithoutopeningit.Hisststopwastheopti’s,andthereheboughttassolutionandorderednewlenses.
By2:00hewasbaHedeby,andhewasjustremovingthepricetagsfromhisnewclotheswhehefrontdooropen.Ablondeerhapsinherfifties—kheopenkitdoorasshesteppedacrossthethreshold.Shewascarryingaspongecakeonaptter.
“Hello.Ijustwaoeovertointroducemyself.MynameisHelenaNilsson,andIliveacrosstheroad.Ihearwe’regoingtobeneighbours.”
Theyshookhandsaroducedhimself.
“Ohyes,I’veseenyouonTV.It’sgoingtobeoseelightsoverhereintheevening.”
Blomkvistputonsomecoffee.Shebegantoobjectbutthensatatthekittable,castingafurtiveghewindow.
“HereesHenrikwithmyhusband.Itlookslikesomeboxesforyou.”
VangerandGunnarNilssondrewupoutsidewithadolly,andBlomkvistrushedouttogreetthemandtohelpcarrythefourpagcratesiheysettheboxesonthefloorothestove.BlomkvistgotoutthecoffeecupsandtoFr?kenNilsson’sspongecake.
TheNilssonswerepleasantpeople.TheydidnotseemcuriousaboutwhyBlomkvistwasiad—thefactthathewaswforHenrikVangerwasevidentlyenoughofanexpnation.BlomkvistobservedtheiioweentheNilssonsandVanger,cludingthatitwasrexedandginanysulfbetweenmasterandservants.TheytalkedaboutthevilgeandthemanwhohadbuilttheguesthousewhereBlomkvistwasliving.TheNilssonswouldpromptVangerwhenhismemoryfailedhim.He,oherhand,toldafunnystoryabouthowNilssonhadehomeonenighttodiscoverthevilgeidiotfromacrossthebridgetryingtobreakawindowattheguesthouse.Nilssoovertoaskthehalf-witteddeliwhyhedidn’tgointhroughtheunlockedfrontdoor.NilssoniedBlomkvist’slittleTVwithmisgivingandinvitedhimtoeacrosstotheirhouseiftherewaseveraprogrammehewaosee.
VaayedonbrieflyaftertheNilsso.HethoughtitbestthatBlomkvistsortthroughthefileshimself,andhecouldetothehouseifhehadanyproblems.
Whenhewasaloneoncemore,Blomkvistcarriedtheboxesintohisoffidmadeaoryofthetents.
Vanger’siigationintothedisappearanceofhisbrranddaughterhadbeengoingonforthirty-sixyears.Blomkvistwonderedwhetherthiswasahyobsessionorwhether,overtheyears,ithaddevelopedintoanintellectualgame.Whatwasclearwasthattheoldpatriarchhadtackledthejobwiththesystematicapproachofanamateurarchaeologist—thematerialwasgoingtofilltweofshelving.
Thergestseofitsistedoftwenty-sixbinders,whichwerethecopiesofthepolivestigation.Hardtobelieveanordinarymissing-personcasewouldhaveproducedsuchpreheerial.VangernodoubthadenoughclouttokeeptheHedestadpolicefollowingupbothpusibleandimpusibleleads.
Thentherewerescraps,photographalbums,maps,textsaboutHedestadandtheVangerfirm,Harriet’sdiary,hersedicalcertificates.ThereweresixteenboundA4volumesofonehundredorsopageseach,whichwereVanger’slogoftheiigations.Inthesenoteshehadrecordedinanimpeablehandhisowions,theories,digressions.Blomkvistleafedthroughthem.Thetexthadaliteraryquality,ahefeelingthatthesetextswerefaircopiesofperhapsmanymorehereweretenbinderstainingmaterialonmembersoftheVangerfamily;thesepagesweretypedandhadbeenpiledovertheinterveningyears,Vanger’siigationsofhisownfamily.
Around7:00heheardaloudmeowingatthefrontdoor.Areddish-browncatslippedswiftlypasthimintothewarmth.
“Wisecat,”hesaid.
Theiffedaroundtheguesthouseforawhile.Mikaelpouredsomemilkintoadish,andhisguestppeditup.Thehoppedontothekitbendcurledup.Andthereshestayed.
Itwasafter10:00beforeBlomkvisthadthescopeofthematerialclearinhismindandhadarraontheshelves.Heputonapotofcoffeeandmadehimselftwosandwiches.Hehadenapropermeallday,buthewasstrangelyuedod.Heofferedthecatapieceofsausageandsomeliverwurst.Afterdrinkinghiscoffee,hetookthecigarettesoutofhisjacketpocketahepack.
Hecheckedhismobile.Bergerhadnotcalled.Hetriedheroncemainonlyhervoicemail.
OhefirststepsBlomkvisthadtakenwastosthemapofHedebyIsndthathehadborrowedfromVanger.Whileallthenameswerestillfreshinhismiedownwholivedineachhouse.TheVangersistedofsuextethatitwouldtaketimetolearnho.
Justbeforemidnightheputonwarmclothesandhisnewshoesandwalkedacrossthebridge.Heturnedofftheroadandalongthesouhechurch.Icehadformedonthesoundandiheoldharbour,butfartherouthecouldseeadarkerbeltofopenwater.Ashestoodthere,thelightsonthefacadeofthechurtout,anditwasdarkalroundhim.Itwasicycoldandstarsfilledthesky.
AllofasuddenBlomkvistfeltdepressed.HecouldnotforthelifeofhimuandhowhehadallowedVaalkhimintotakingonthisassig.Bergerwasright:heshouldbeinSto—ihher,forinstandpnninghiscampaignsagainstWer?m.Buthefeltapatheticaboutthattoo,andhedidn’tevehefaiideahowtobeginpnningater-strategy.
Haditbeendaylight,hewouldhavewalkedstraighttoVanger’shouse,celledhistradgonehome.Butfromtherisebesidethechurchheakeoutallthehousesontheisndside.HaraldVanger’shousewasdark,buttherewerelightsoninCecilia’shome,aswelsinMartin’sviloutbythepointandinthehousethatwasleased.Inthesmall-boatharbourtherewerelightsoninthedraughtyoftheartistandlittlecloudsofsparkswererisingfromhisey.Therewerealsolightsoniopfloorofthecafé,andBlomkvistwonderedwhetherSusannelivedthere,andifso,whethershewasalone.
OnSundaymheawokeinpanicattheincredibledinthatfilledtheguesthouse.Ittookhimasedtogethisbearingsandrealisethatitwasthechurchbellssummoningparishioservice.Itwasnearly11:00.Hestayediilheheardameowinginthedoorwayandgotuptoletoutthecat.
Bynoonhehadshoweredaenbreakfast.Hewentresolutelyintohisoffidtookdownthefirstbinderfromthepolivestigation.Theated.FromthegablewindowhecouldseeSusanne’sBridgeCafé.Hestuffedthebiohisshoulderbagandputonhisoutdoorclothes.Whenhereachedthecafé,hefounditbrimmingwithers,andtherehehadtheaoaquestionthathadbeeninthebackofhismind:howcouldacafésurviveinabackwaterlikeHedeby?Susannespecialisedinchurchgoersandpresumablydidcoffeeandcakesforfuneralsandotherfuns.
Hetookawalkinstead.KonsumwasclosedonSundays,ainuedafewhundredyardstowardsHedestad,whereheboughtneersatapetrolstation.HespentanhourwalkingaroundHedeby,familiarisinghimselfwiththetownbeforethebridge.TheareaclosesttothechurdpastKonsumwasthetre,witholderbuildings—two-storeystoructureswhikvistguessedhadbeenbuiltinthe1910sor’20sandwhiedashortmai.Northoftheroadintotoell-keptapartmentbuildingsforfamilieswithchildren.Aloerandtothesouthofthechurchweremostlysingle-familyhomes.Hedebylookedtobearetivelywell-to-doareaforHedestad’sdeakersandcivilservants.
Wheurhebridge,theassaultonthecaféhadebbed,butSusannewasstillclearingdishesfromthetables.
“TheSundayrush?”hesaidiing.
Shenoddedasshetuckedalockofhairbehindoneear.“Hi,Mikael.”
“Soyouremembermyname.”
“Hardtofet,”shesaid.“IfollowedyourtrialonTV.”
“Theyhavetofillupthenewswithsomething,”hemuttered,anddriftedovertotheertablewithaviewofthebridge.WheSusanne’seyes,shesmiled.
At3:00Susanneannouhatshewasclosingthecaféfortheday.Afterthechurchrush,onlyafewershadeandgone.Blomkvisthadreadmorethanafifthofthefirstbihepolivestigatiouckhisohisbagandwalkedbrisklyhomeacrossthebridge.
Thecatwaswaitingoeps.Helookedaround,wwhosecatitwas.Heletitihesame,sihecatwasatleastsomesortofpany.
HemadeonemorevaioreachBerger.Obviouslyshewasfuriouswithhimstill.Hecouldhavetriedcallingherdireeattheofficeorherhomenumber,buthehadalreadyleftenoughmessages.Instead,hemadehimselfcoffee,movedthecatfartheralobendopehebihetable.
Hereadcarefullyandslowly,notwantingtomissaail.Byteevening,whenheclosedthebinder,hehadfilledseveralpagesofhisowhremindersaionstowhichhehopedtofindanswersinsubsequentbihematerialwasalrrangedinologicalorder.HecouldnottellwhetherVangerhadreahatwayorwhetherthatwasthesystemusedbythepoliceatthetime.
ThefirstpagehotocopyofahandwritteformheadedHedestadPoliceEmergere.TheofficerwhohadtakenthecallhadsignedhisnameD.O.Ryttinger,andBlomkvistassumedthe“D.O.”stoodfor“dutyofficer.”ThecallerwasHenrikVanger.HisaddressandtelephonenumberhadbeehereportwasdatedSunday,September25,1966,at11:14a.m.Thetextwasic:
CallfromHrk.Vaatingthathisbrother’sdaughterhasbeenmissingfromherhomeonHedebyIsndsiurdayafternoon.Thecallerexpressedgreat.
Aat11:20a.m.statedthatP-014hadbeeothesite.
A11:35a.m.,inalesslegiblehandthanRyttinger’s,iedthatOff.MagnussosthatbridgetoHedebyIsndstillblocked.Transp.byboat.Inthemarginanillegiblesignature.
At12:14p.m.Ryttingerisback:TelephoneversationOff.MagnussoninH-byfirmsthat16-year-oldHarrietVangermissingsinceearlySaturdayafternoon.Familyexpressedgreat.Notbelievedtohavesleptinherbedstnight.Couldnothaveleftisoblockedbridge.NoneoffamilymembershasanyknowledgeastoHV’swhereabouts.
At12:19p.m.:G.M.rmedbytelephoneaboutthesituation.
Thestnotewasrecordedat1:42p.m.:G.M.oH-by;willtakeoverthematter.
Thepagerevealedthattheinitials“G.M.”referredtoDetectiveIustafMorell,whoarrivedatHedebyIsndbyboataookovermand,preparingaformalreportonthedisappearanceofHarrietVanger.Uheinitialnotationswiththeirneedlessabbreviations,Morell’sreportswerewrittenonatypewriterandinveryreadableprose.Thefollowingpagesretedwhatmeasureshadbeentaken,withaivityahofdetailthatsurprisedBlomkvist.
MorellhadfirstinterviewedHenrikVangeralongwithIsabelVanger,Harriet’smother.ThealkedinturnwithUlrikaVanger,HaraldVanger,GregerVanger,Harriet’sbrotherMartinVanger,andAnitaVanger.Blomkvistcametotheclusionthattheseinterviewshadbeenductedatoascaleofdecreasingimportance.
UlrikaVangerwasHenrikVanger’smother,andevidentlysheheldastatusparabletothatofadowagerqueen.UlrikalivedattheVaeandwasabletoprovidenormation.ShehadgoobedearlyonthepreviousnightandhadnotseenHarrietforseveraldays.SheappearedtohaveinsistedoiiveIorMorellsolelytogiveairtoheropinionthatthepolicehadtoactatonce,immediately.
HaraldVangerrankedaswoo.HehadseenHarrietonlybrieflywheurnedfromthefestivitiesiad,buthehadnotseenhersiheaidentonthebridgeourredandhehadnoknowledgeofwhereshemightbeatpresent.
GregerVanger,brotherofHenrikandHarald,statedthathehadseenthemissingsixteen-year-oldinHenrikVanger’sstudy,askingtospeakwithHenrikafterhervisittoHedestadearlierintheday.GregerVaatedthathehadnotspokenwithherhimself,merelygivenheragreeting.Hehadnoideawhereshemightbefound,butheexpressedtheviewthatshehadprobably,thoughtlessly,goovisitsomefriendwithouttellinganyoneandwouldreappearsoon.Whenaskedhowshemightinthatcasehavelefttheisnd,heofferednoanswer.
MartinVangerwasinterviewedinacursoryfashion.HewasinhisfithepreparatoryschoolinUppsa,wherehelivedinthehomeofHaraldVaherewasnoroomforhiminHarald’scar,sohehadtakeraioHedeby,arrivingsotethathewasstrahewrongsideofthebridgeaidentandcouldnotcrossuntilteintheeveningbyboat.Hewasinterviewedinthehopethathissistermighthavefidedinhimandperhapsgivenhimsomeclueifshewasthinkingofrunningaway.ThequestionwasmetwithprotestsfromHarrietVanger’smother,butatthatmomentIorMorellerhapsthinkingthatHarriet’shavingrunawaywouldbethebesttheycouldhopefor.ButMartinhadnotspokenwithhissistersihesummerholidayandhadnormationofvalue.
AnitaVanger,daughterofHaraldVanger,waserroneouslylistedasHarriet’s“firstcousin.”ShewasinherfirstyearattheuyinStoandhadspentthesummerinHedeby.ShewasalmostthesameageasHarrietandtheyhadbeeclosefriends.ShestatedthatshehadarrivedattheisndwithherfatheronSaturdayandwaslookingforwardtoseeingHarriet,butshehadnothadtheopportunitytofindher.Anitastatedthatshefeltuneasy,andthatitwasnotlikeHarriettogooffwithouttellingthefamily.HenrikandIsabelVangerfirmedthatthiswasthecase.
WhileIorMorellwasinterviewingfamilymembers,hehadtoldMagnussonandBergman—patrol014—toahefirstsearchpartywhiletherewasstilldaylight.Thebridgewasstillclosedtotraffic,soitwasdifficulttocallinrerts.Thegroupsistedofaboutthirtyavaibleindividuals,menandwomenages.Theareastheysearchedthatafternoonincludedtheunoupiedhousesatthefishingharbour,theshorelihepointandalongthesound,theseofwoodsclosesttothevilge,andthehillcalledS?derbergetbehindthefishingharbour.ThetterwassearchedbecausesomeonehadputforwardthetheorythatHarrietmighthavegoheretogetagoodviewoftheseonthebridge.Patrolswerealsosentoutto?sterg?rdenandtoGottfried’sohersideoftheisnd,whichHarrietoasionallyvisited.
Butthesearchwasfruitless;itwasnotcalledoff
“Idon’thaveachoice,”Blomkvistsaid.“Wedon’thaveachoice.”
Hepouredhimselfacoffeeandsatatthekittable.Bergershookherheadandsatdownfaghim.
“Whatdoyouthink,Christer?”shesaid.
Hehadbeeingthequestionanddreadingthemomentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastahethirdpartner,buttheyallkhatitwasBlomkvistandBergerwhowereMillennium.Theonlytimetheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.
“Holy,”Malmsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tmatterwhatIthink.”
Heshutup.Helovedmakingpictures.Helovedwwithgraphics.Hehadneversideredhimselfanartist,butheknewhewasadamnedgooddesigner.Oherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.
BergerandBlomkvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.Shewasdfurious.Hewasthinkinghard.
Thisisn’tanargument,Malmthought.It’sadivorce.
“OK,letmepresentmycaseoime,”Blomkvistsaid.“ThisdoesnotmeanI’vegivenuponMillennium.We’vespenttoomuchtimewourheartsoutforthat.”
“Butnowyouwoheoffice—ChristerandIwillhavetocarrytheload.’tyouseethat?You’retheonemargintoself-imposedexile.”
“That’sthesedthing.Ineedabreak,Erika.I’mnotfuninganymore.I’mbur.ApaidsabbatiHedestadmightbeexactlywhatIneed.”
“Thewholethingisidiotic,Mikael.Youmightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”
“Iknow.ButI’mgoingtoget2.4millionforsittingonmybacksideforayear,andIwoingmytime.That’sthethirdthing.RouhWer?misover,andheknockedmeout.RoundTwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkMillenniumfoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillwaysknowwhathe’sbeenupto,foraslongasthemagazis.”
“Iknowwhathe’sdoing.I’veseenitihlyadsalesfiguresforthestsixmonths.”
“That’sexactlywhyIhavetogetoutoftheoffice.I’mlikearedragwavingathim.He’sparanoidasfarasI’med.AslongasI’mhere,he’lljustkeeponing.NowwehavetoprepareourselvesforRoundThree.Ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestceagainstWer?m,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholerategy.Wehavetofindsomethingtohammerhimwith.That’llbemyjobthisyear.”
“Iuandallthat,”Bergersaid.“Sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.Goabroad,lieonabeaonth.CheckoutthelovelifeoaBrava.Rex.GoouttoSandhamnandlookatthewaves.”
“AndwhenIebaothingwillbedifferent.Wer?misgoingtocrushMillenniumunlessheisappeasedbymyhavingstooddown.Youknowthat.Theonlythingwhichmightotherwisestophimisifwegetsomethingonhimthatweuse.”
“Andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindiad?”
“Icheckedthecuttings.Wer?mdidworkattheVangerpanyfrom1969to1972.Hewasinmaandwasresponsibleficpts.Heleftinahurry.WhyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythatHenrikVangerdoeshavesomethingonhim?”
“Butifwhathedidhappehirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehardtoproveittoday.”
“Vangerpromisedtosetoutiailwhatheknows.He’sobsessedwiththismissinggirl—itseemstobetheonlythinghe’siedin,andifthismeaoburnWer?mthenIthinkthere’sagoodcehe’lldoit.Wecertainly’tigheopportunity—he’sthefirstpersonwho’ssaidhe’swillingtogoonrecordwithevidenceagainstWer?m.”
“Wecouldn’tuseitevenifyoucamebackwithintrovertibleproofthatitwasWer?mwhledthegirl.Notaftersomanyyears.He’dmassacreusincourt.”
“Thethoughthadcrossedmymind,butit’snogood:heluggingawayattheStoSchoolofEidhadnoewiththeVangerpahetimeshedisappeared.”Blomkvistpaused.“Erika,I’mnotgoingtoleaveMillennium,butit’simportantforittolookasifIhave.YouandChristerhavetogoonrunningthemagazine.Ifyou…ifyouhaveaceteacease-firewithWer?m,thendoit.You’tdothatifI’mstilloorialboard.”
“OK,butit’sarottensituation,andIthinkyraspingatstrawsgoingtoHedestad.”
“Haveyouabetteridea?”
Bergershrugged.“Weoughttostartchasingdownsourcesrightnoddhtthistime.”
“Ricky—thatstoryisdeadasadoornail.”
Dejected,Bergerrestedherheadonherhands.Whenshespoke,atfirstshedidnotwanttomeetBlomkvist’seyes.
“I’msofugangrywithyou.Notbecausethestoryyouwrotewasbaseless—Iwasinonitasmuchasyouwere.Andnotbecauseyou’releavingyourjobaspublisher—that’sasmartdecisioninthissituation.Igoalongwithmakingitlooklikeaschismorapowerstrugglebetweenyouandme—Iuandthelogiit’samatterofmakingWer?mbelieveI’maharmlessbimboandyou’retherealthreat.”Shepausedandnowlookedhimresolutelyintheeye.“ButIthinkyou’remakingamistake.Wer?misn’tgoingtofallforit.He’sgoingtokeeporoyingMillennium.Theonlydifferehatstartingfromtoday,Ihavetofighthimalone,andyouknowthatyou’reneededmorethaheeditorialboard.OK,I’dlovetowagewaragainstWer?m,butwhatmakesmesocrossisthatyou’reabandoningshipallofasudden.You’releavihelurchwhenthingsareabsolutelyattheirworstever.”
Blomkvistreachedacrossandstrokedherhair.
“You’renotalone.You’vegotChristeraofthestaffbehindyou.”
“NotJanneDahlman.Bytheway,Ithinkyoumadeamistakehiringhim.He’spetent,buthedoesmoreharmthangood.Idon’ttrusthidon’tknowifhehopeshetakeoveryourroleorwhetherit’sjustpersonalchemistrybetweenhimaofthestaff.”
“I’mafraidyht,”Blomkvistsaid.
“SowhatshouldIdo?Firehim?”
“Erika,you’reeditorinchiefandtheseniorshareholderofMillennium.Ifyouhaveto,firehim.”
“We’veneverfiredanyone,Micke.Andnowyou’redumpingthisdeetoo.It’snofunanymoingtotheoffithem.”
AtthatpointMalmsurprisedthembystandingup.
“Ifyoingtocatchthattrainwe’vegottogetmoving.”Bergerbegantoprotest,butheheldupahand.“Wait,Erika,youaskedmewhatIthought.Well,Ithiuationisshitty.ButifthingsarethewayMikaelsays—thathe’sabouttohitthewall—thenhereallydoeshavetoleaveforhisownsake.Weowehimthatmuch.”
TheystaredatMalminastonishmentandhegaveBlomkvistanembarrassedlook.
“Youbothknowthatit’syoutwowhoareMillennium.I’mapartnerandyou’vealwaysbeenfairwithmeandIlovethemagazineandallthat,butyoucouldeasilyrepcemewithsomeotherartdirector.Butsinceyouaskedformyopinion,thereyouhaveit.AsfarasDahlmanised,Iagreewithyou.Andifyouwanttofirehim,Erika,thenI’lldoitforyou.Aslongaswehaveacrediblereason.Obviouslyit’sextremelyunfortuMikael’sleavingrightnow,butIdon’tthinkwehaveachoice.Mikael,I’lldriveyoutothestation.ErikaandIwillholdthefortuntilyougetback.”
“WhatI’mafraidofisthatMikaelwon’tevereback,”Bergersaidquietly.
ArmanskywokeupSanderwhenhecalledherat1:30iernoon.
“What’sthisabout?”shesaid,drunkwithsleep.Hermouthtastedliketar.
“MikaelBlomkvist.Ijusttalkedtoourt,thewyer,Frode.”
“So?”
“HecalledtosaythatwedroptheiigationofWer?m.”
“Dropit?ButI’vejuststartedwonit.”
“Frodeisn’tiedanymore.”
“Justlikethat?”
“He’stheonewhodecides.”
“Weagreedonafee.”
“Howmuchtimehaveyouputin?”
Sahoughtaboutit.“Threefulldays.”
“Weagreedonaceilingoffortythousandkronor.I’llwriteaninvoicefortenthousand;you’llgethalf,whichisaeptableforthreedaysoftimewasted.He’llhavetopaybecausehe’stheonewhoinitiatedthewholething.”
“WhatshouldIdowiththematerialI’vegathered?”
“Isthereanythingdramatic?”
“No.”
“Frodedidn’taskforareport.Putitontheshelfincaseheesback.Otherwiseyoushredit.I’llhaveanewjobforyouweek.”
SaforawhileholdielephoerArmanskyhungup.Shewenttoherworkerinthelivingroomandlookedatthenotesshehadpinneduponthewalndthepapersshehadstackedonthedesk.WhatshehadmaocollectwasmostlypresscuttingsandarticlesdownloadedfromtheInter.Shetookthepapersanddroppedtheminadeskdrawer.
Shefrowned.Blomkvist’sstrangebehaviourinthecourtroomhadpresentedaingchallenge,andSanderdidnotlikeabanassigonceshehadstarted.Peoplealwayshavesecrets.It’sjustamatteroffindingoutwhattheyare.
PART2
sequenalyses
JANUARY3–MARCH17
Forty-sixpertofthewomeninSwedenhavebeensubjectedtoviolencebyaman.
CHAPTER8
Friday,January3–Sunday,January5
WhenBlomkvistalightedfromhistraiadforthesedtime,theskyastelblueandtheairicycold.Thethermometeronthewallofthestationsaid0°F.Hewaswearingunsuitablewalkingshoes.Unlikeonhispreviousvisit,therewasnoHerrFrodewaitingwithawarmcar.Blomkvisthadtoldthemwhichdayhewouldarrive,butnotonwhichtrain.HeassumedtherewasabustoHedeby,buthedidnotfeellikestrugglingwithtwoheavysuitcasesandashoulderbag,sohecrossedthesquaretothetaxistand.
IthadsnowedmassivelyallongtheNorrndcoastbetweenChristmasandNewYear’s,andjudgingbytheridgesandpilesofsnowthrownupbytheploughs,theroadteamshadbeenoutinfullforHedestad.Thetaxidriver,whosename,atohisIDpostedonthewindow,wasHussein,noddedwhenBlomkvistaskedwhethertheyhadbeenhavingroughweather.InthebroadestNorr,hereportedthatithadbeentheworstsnowstormindecades,aerlyregrettednottakinghisholidayinGreeceovertheChristmasperiod.
BlomkvistdirectedhimtoHenrikVanger’snewlyshovelledcourtyard,whereheliftedhissuitcasesontothecobblestonesandwatchedthetaxiheadbacktowardsHedestad.Hesuddelonelyanduain.
Heheardthedooropenbehindhim.Vangerwasedupinaheavyfurcoat,thickboots,andacapwithearfps.Blomkvistwasinjeansandathiherjacket.
“Ifyoingtoliveuphere,youolearntodressmorewarmlyforthistimeofyear.”Theyshookhands.“Areyousureyoudon’twanttostayinthemainhouse?No?ThenIthinkwe’dbetterstartgettingyousettledintoyournewlodgings.”
OheditionsinhisiationswithVangerandDirchFrodehadbeenthathehavelivingquarterswherehecoulddohisownhousekeepingandeandgoashepleased.VangerledBlomkvistbackalongtheroadtowardsthebridgeauroopeetoanothernewlyshovelledcourtyardinfrontofasmalltimberedhouseclosetotheendofthebridge.Thehousewasnotlocked.TheysteppedintoamodesthallwaywhereBlomkvist,withasighofrelief,putdownhissuitcases.
“Thisiswhatwecalluesthouse.It’swhereweusuallyputpeopleupwhoingtostayforalongerperiodoftime.Thiswaswhereyouandyourparentslivedin1963.It’soheoldestbuildingsinthevilge,butit’sbeenmodernised.IaskedNilsson,mycaretaker,tolightthefirethism.”
Thehousesistedekitandtwosmallerrooms,totallingabout500squarefeet.Thekittookuphalfthespadwasquitemodern,witharicstoveandasmallrefrigeratainstthewallfagthefrontdoorstoodanoldcast-ironstoveinwhichafirehadindeedbeenlitearlierintheday.
“Youdoousethewoodstoveugetsbitterlycold.Thefirewoodbinisthereinthehallway,andyou’llfindawoodshedattheback.Thehousehasbeenunlived-inthisautumn.Theelectricheatersareusuallysuffit.Justmakesureyoudon’thanganyclothesonthem,oritmaystartafire.”
Blomkvistlookedaround.Windowsfacedthreedifferentdires,andfromthekittablehehadaviewofthebridge,aboutahundredfeetaway.Thefurnishingsiincludedthreebigcupboards,somekitchairs,anoldbendashelfforneers.OntopwasanissueofSeefrom1967.Inoneerwasasmallertablethatcouldbeusedasadesk.
Twonarrowdoorsledtosmallerrooms.Theoheright,closesttotheoutsidewall,washardlymorethanacubbyholewithadesk,achair,andsomeshelvesalongthewall.Theotherroom,betweenthehallwayaleoffice,wasaverysmallbedroomwithanarrowdoublebed,abedsidetable,andawardrobe.Onthewallshungndscapepaintings.Thefurnitureandaperinthehousewerealloldandfaded,butthepcesmellednid.Someonehadworkedoverthefloorwithadoseofsoap.Thebedroomhadanotherdoortothehallway,whereastoreroomhadbeenvertedintoabathroomwithashower.
“Youmayhaveaproblemwiththewater,”Vangersaid.“Wecheckeditthism,butthepipesaren’tburiedverydeep,andifthiscoldhangstheymayfreeze.There’sabucketinthehallwaysoeupaerfromusifyouo.”
“I’llelephone,”Blomkvistsaid.
“I’vealreadyorderedohey’llbeheretoinstallitthedayaftertomorrow.So,whatdoyouthink?Ifyougeyourmind,youwouldbeweleinthemainhouseatanytime.”
“Thiswillbejustfine,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Excellent.Wehaveanotherhourorsoofdaylightleft.Shallwetakeawalksoyoufamiliariseyourselfwiththevilge?MightIsuggestthatyouputonsomeheavysodapairofboots?You’llfihefrontdoor.”Blomkvistdidashesuggestedanddecidedthattheverydayhewouldgoshoppingfunderairofgoodwintershoes.
TheoldmanstartedthetourbyexpiningthatBlomkvist’sneighbouracrosstheroadwasGunnarNilsson,theassistantwhomVangerinsistedoncalling“thecaretaker.”ButBlomkvistsoonrealisedthathewasmoreofasuperinteforallthebuildingsonHedebyIsnd,andhealsohadresponsibilityforseveralbuildingsiad.
“HisfatherwasMagnusNilsson,whowasmycaretakeriies,ohemenwhohelpedoutattheaidentonthebridge.Magnusisretiredandlivesiad.Gunnarlivesherewithhiswife,whosenameisHelena.Theirchildrenhavemovedout.”
Vangerpausedforamomenttoshapewhathewouldsay,whichwas:“Mikael,theofficialexpnationforyourpresencehereisthatyoingtohelpmewritemyautobiography.Thatwillgiveyouanexcuseforpokingaroundinallthedarkersandaskiions.ThereassigisstrictlybetweenyouandmeandDirchFrode.”
“Iuand.AndI’llrepeatwhatIsaidbefore:Idon’tthinkI’mgoingtobeabletosolvethemystery.”
“AllIaskisthatyoudoyourbest.Butwemustbecarefulwhatwesayinfrontofanyoneelse.Gunnarisfifty-six,whichmeansthathewasnieenwhenHarrietdisappeared.There’soionthatIanswered—HarrietandGunnarweregoodfriends,andIthinksomesortofchildishromaoweenthem.Herettyiedianyrate.Butonthedayshedisappeared,hewasiad;hewasohosestrahemainnd.Becauseoftheirretionship,hecameunderclosescrutiny.Itwasquiteunpleasantforhim.Hewaswithsomefriendsallday,andhedidbackhereuntilevening.Thepolicecheckedhisalibianditwasairtight.”
“Iassumethatyouhavealistofeveryonewhowasontheisndandwhateverybodywasdoingthatday.”
“That’scorrect.Shallwegoon?”
Theystoppedatthecrossroadsonthehill,andVangerpointeddowntowardstheoldfishingharbour,nowusedforsmallboats.
“AllthendonHedebyIsndisowheVangerfamily—orbyme,tobemoreprecise.Theoneexceptionisthefarmndat?sterg?rdenandafewhouseshereinthevilge.Thesdowthefishingharbourareprivatelyowned,butthey’resummercottagesalyvatdurier.Exceptforthathousefarthestaway—youseesmokeingfromtheey.”
Blomkvistsawthesmokerising.Hewasfrozentothebone.
“It’samiserablydraughtyhovelthatfunsaslivingquartersyear-round.That’swhereEugenNormanlives.He’sinhisteseventiesandisapainterofsorts.Ithinkhisworkiskitsch,buthe’sratherwellknownasandscapepainter.Youmightcallhimtheobligatoryeentrithevilge.”
VangerguidedBlomkvistouttowardsthepoint,identifyingonehouseaftertheother.Thevilgesistedofsixbuildingsosideoftheroadandfouro.Thefirsthouse,closesttoBlomkvist’sguesthouseandtheVae,belooHenrikVanger’sbrotherHarald.Itwasaregur,two-storeystonebuildingwhichatfirstgnceseemedunoupied.Thecurtainsweredrawnahtothefrontdoorhadnotbeencleared;itwascoveredwithafootandahalfofsnow.Onsedgheycouldseethefootprintsofsomeonewhohadtrudgedthroughthesnowfromtheroaduptothedoor.
“Haraldisarecluse.HeandIhaveneverseeoeye.Apartfromourdisagreementsoverthefirm—he’sashareholder—we’vebarelyspokentoeachotherinnearly60years.He’sniy-twonow,andtheonlyoneofmyfourbrothersstillive.I’lltellyouthedetailster,buthetraiobeadoctoramostofhisprofessionallifeinUppsa.HemovedbacktoHedebywheury.”
“Youdon’tcaremuchforeachother,ayou’reneighbours.”
“Ifindhimdetestable,andIwouldhaveratherhe’dstayedinUppsa,butheownsthishouse.DoIsoundlikeasdrel?”
“Yousoundlikesomeonewhodoesn’tmuchlikehisbrother.”
“Ispentthefirsttwenty-fiveyearsofmylifeapologisingforpeoplelikeHaraldbecausewe’refamily.ThenIdiscoveredthatbeiedisnoguaranteeofloveandIhadfewreasonstodefendHarald.”
ThehousebelooIsabel,HarrietVanger’smother.
“She’llbeseventy-fivethisyear,ailsstylishandvainasever.She’salsotheonlyohevilgewhotalkstoHarald,andoasionallyvisitshim,buttheydon’thavemumon.”
“HowwasherretionshipwithHarriet?”
“Goodquestion.Thewomeobeincludedamongthesuspects.Itoldyouthatshemostlyleftthechildrentotheirowndevices.I’tbesure,butIthinkherheartwasintherightpce;shejustwasn’tcapableoftakingresponsibility.SheandHarrietwereneverclose,buttheyweren’teher.Isabelbetough,butsometimesshe’snotallthere.You’llseewhatImeanwhenyoumeether.”
Isabel’sneighbourwasCeciliaVahedaughterofHarald.
“Shewasmarriedondlivediad,butsheandherhusbandseparatedsometwentyyearsago.Iownthehouseandofferedtolethermoveieacher,andinmanywaysshe’sthedirectoppositeofherfather.Imightaddthatsheaherspeaktoeachotheronlywhennecessary.”
“Howoldisshe?”
“Bornin1946.SoshewastwentywhenHarrietdisappeared.Andyes,shewasoheguestsontheisndthatday.Ceciliamayseemflighty,butinfactshe’sshrewderthanmost.Don’tuimateher.Ifanyone’sgoingtoferretoutwhatyou’reupto,she’stheone.Imightaddthatshe’soneofmyretivesforwhomIhavethehighestregard.”
“Doesthatmeanthatyoudon’tsuspecther?”
“Iwouldn’tsaythat.Iwantyoutopohematterwithoutanystraints,regardlessofwhatIthinkorbelieve.”
ThehouseclosesttoCecilia’swasalsoownedbyHenrikVanger,butitwasleasedtoanelderlycoupleformerlypartofthemateamoftheVangerpaheyhadmovedtoHedebyIsndiies,sotheyhadnothingtodowithHarriet’sdisappearahehousewasownedbyBirgerVanger,Cecilia’sbrother.ThehousehadbeeyformanyyearssinceBirgermovedtoamodernhouseiad.
Mostofthebuildingsliningtheroadweresolidstoructuresfromtheearlytwehtury.Thesthousewasofadifferenttype,amodern,architect-designedhomebuiltofwhitebrickwithbdowframes.Itwasiifulsituation,andBlomkvistcouldseethattheviewfromthetopfloormustbemagnifit,fagtheseatotheeastaadtothenorth.
“ThisiswhereMartinlives—Harriet’sbrotherandtheVangerCorporatioheparsonageusedtobehere,butthatbuildingwasdestroyedbyafireintheseventies,andMartinbuiltthishousein1978wheookoverasCEO.”
IbuildingosideoftheroadlivedGerdaVanger,widowofHenrik’sbrer,andherson,Alexander.
“Gerdaissickly.Shesuffersfromrheumatism.AlexanderownsasmallshareoftheVangerCorporation,butherunsanumberofhisownbusinesses,includiaurants.HeusuallyspendsafewmonthseachyearinBarbados,wherehehasiedasiderablesumiouristtrade.”
BetweenGerda’sandHenrik’shouseslotofndwithtwosmaller,emptybuildings.Theywereusedasguesthousesforfamilymembers.OhersideofHenrik’shousestoodaprivatedwellingwhereairedemployeelivedwithhiswife,butittyierwhenthecouplerepairedtoSpain.
Theyreturhecrossroads,andwiththatthetourwasover.Duskwasbeginningtofall.Blomkvisttooktheinitiative.
“Henrik,I’lldowhatI’vebeeodo.I’llwriteyourautobiography,andI’llhumouryoubyreadingallthemateriaboutHarrietascarefullyandcriticallyasI.IjustwantyoutorealisethatI’mnotaprivatedetective.”
“Iexpeothing.”
“Fine.”
“I’manightowl,”Vangersaid.“SoI’matyourdisposanytimeafterlunch.I’lrrangeforyoutohaveanofficeuphere,andyoumakeuseofitwheneveryoulike.”
“No,thankyou.Ihaveanoffitheguesthouse,andthat’swhereI’lldomywork.”
“Asyouwish.”
“IfIalktoyou,we’lldoitinyouroffice,butI’mnotgoingtostartthrowiionsatyoutonight.”
“Iuand.”Theoldmanseemedimprobablytimid.
“It’sgoingtotakeacoupleofweekstoreadthroughthepapers.We’llworkontwofronts.We’llmeetforafewhourseachdaysothatIterviewyouandgathermaterialforyraphy.WhenIstarthaviionsaboutHarrietwhieedtodiscusswithyou,I’llletyouknow.”
“Thatsoundssensible.”
“I’mgoingtorequireafreehandtodomywork,andIwon’thaveaworkhours.”
“Youdecideforyourselfhowtheworkshouldbedone.”
“Isupposeyou’reawarethatIhavetospendacoupleofmonthsinprison.Idon’tklywhen,butI’mnotgoingtoappeal.It’llprobablybesometimethisyear.”
Vangerfrowhat’sunfortunate.We’llhavetosolvethatproblemwhenitesup.Youalwaysrequestapostpo.”
“Ifit’spermittedandIhaveenoughmaterial,Imightbeabletoworkonyourinprison.Onemorething:I’mstillpartownerofMillenniumandasofnowit’samagazineincrisis.Ifsomethinghappensthatrequiresmypreseo,IwouldhavetodropwhatI’mdoingandgothere.”
“Ididn’ttakeyouonasaserf.IwantyoutodoathhjobontheassigI’vegivenyou,but,ofcourse,yousetyourownscheduleanddotheworkasyouseefit.Ifyouakesometimeoff,feelfreetodoit,butifIfindoutthatyou’renotdoingthework,I’llsiderthatabreachoftract.”
Vangerlookedovertowardsthebridge.Hewasagauntman,andBlomkvistthoughtthathelookedatthatmomentlikeamencholyscarecrow.
“AsfarasMillenniumised,weoughttohaveadiscussionaboutwhatkindofcrisisit’sinaherIhelpinsomeway.”
“ThebestassistanceyouofferistogivemeWer?m’sheadonaptterrighthereandnow.”
“Ohno,I’mnotthinkingofdoingthat.”TheoldmangaveBlomkvistahardlook.“TheonlyreasonyoutookthisjobwasbecauseIpromisedtoexposeWer?m.IfIgiveyouthermationnow,youcouldstopworkonthejobwheneveryoufeltlikeit.I’llgiveyouthermationayearfromnow.”
“Henrik,fivemeforsayingthis,butI’tbesurethatayearfromnowyou’llbealive.”
Vangersighedandcastathoughtfulgazeoverthefishingharbour.
“Fairenough.I’lltalktoFrodeandseeifweworksomethingout.ButasfarasMillenniumised,Imightbeabletohelpinanotherway.AsIuandit,theadvertisershavebeguntopullout.”
“Theadvertisersaretheimmediateproblem,butthecrisisgoesdeeperthanthat.It’samatteroftrust.Itdoesn’tmatterhowmanyadvertiserswehaveifno-ostobuythemagazine.”
“Irealisethat.I’mstillontheboardofdirectorsofquiteargecorporation,albeitinapassiverole.Wehavetopceadvertisementssomewhere.Let’sdiscussthematteratsomestage.Wouldyouliketohavedinner…”
“No.Iwanttogetsettled,buysomegroceries,andtakealookaround.TomorrowI’llgotoHedestadandshopforwinterclothes.”
“Goodidea.”
“I’dlikethefilesaboutHarriettobemovedovertomypce.”
“Theyobehandled…”
“Withgreatcare—Iuand.”
Blomkvistreturheguesthouse.Histeethwerechatteringbythetimehegotindoors.Thethermometeroutsidethewindowsaid5°F,andhecouldn’tremembereverfeelingsocoldasafterthatwalk,whichhadstedbarelytwentyminutes.
Hespentanhoursettlinghimselfintowhatwastobehishomefortheingyear.Heputhisclothesinthewardrobeinthebedroom,histoiletrieswentihroomcabi.Hissedsuitcasewasactuallyatrunkonwheels.Fromithetooks,daCDpyer,notes,aSanyotaperecorder,aMicrotekser,aportableiprinter,aMinoltadigitalcamera,andanumberofotheritemsheregardedasessentialkitforayearinexile.
HearrahesandthetheshelfintheofficealongsidetwobinderstainingresearchmaterialonHans-ErikWer?m.Thematerialwasuseless,buthecouldgo.Somehowhehadtoturnthosetwofoldersintobuildingblocksforhistinuingcareer.
Finallyheopenedhisshoulderbagandputhisionthedeskintheoffice.Theoppedandlookedabouthimwithasheepishexpression.Thebesoflivinginthetryside,forsooth.Therewasopluginthebroadbandcable.Hedidnoteveelephonejacktoeolddial-upmodem.
BlomkvistcalledtheTeliatelephonepanyfromhismobile.Afteraslighthassle,hemaogetsomeoofindtheorderthatVangerhadpcedfuesthouse.HewaoknowwhethertheecouldhandleADSLandwastoldthatitwouldbepossiblebywayofareyinHedeby,andthatitwouldtakeseveraldays.
Itwasafter4:00bythetimeBlomkvistwasdoonapairofthicksodtheborrowedbootsandpulledorasweater.Atthefrontdoorhestoppedshort;hehadbeengiveothehouse,andhisbig-cityinstinctsrebelledattheideaofleavingthefrontdoorunlocked.Hewentbacktothekitandbeganopeningdrawers.Finallyhefoundakeyhangingfromanailiry.
Thetemperaturehaddroppedto-1°F.Hewalkedbrisklyacrossthebridgeandupthehillpastthechurch.TheKonsumstorewasvelylocatedaboutthreehundredyardsaway.Hefilledterbagstooverflowingwithsuppliesandthencarriedthemhomebeforereturningacrossthebridge.ThistimehestoppedatSusanne’sBridgeCafé.Thewomanbehindtheterwasinherfifties.HeaskedwhethershewasSusahenintroducedhimselfbysayingthathewasundoubtedlygoingturer.Hewasforthetimebeingtheonlyer,andSusanneofferedhimcoffeewhenheorderedsandwichesandboughtaloafofbread.HepickedupacopyoftheHedestadCourierfromtheneerradsatatatablewithaviewofthebridgeandthechurch,itsfaowlitup.ItlookedlikeaChristmascard.Ittookhimaboutfourmioreadtheneer.TheonlynewsofiwasabriefitemexpiningthatalocalpolitibythenameerVangerwasgoingtoiin“ITTet”—ateologydevelopmereiad.Mikaelsatthereuntilthecaféclosedat6:00.
At7:30hecalledBerger,butwasadvisedthatthepartyatthatnumberwasnotavaible.Hesatobendtriedtoreadanovelwhich,atothebackcovertext,wasthesensatioofateenagefeminist.Thenovelwasabouttheauthor’sattempttogetahandleonhersexlifeduringatriptoParis,andBlomkvistwonderedwhetherhecouldbecalledafeministifhewroteahisownsexlifeinthevoiceofahigh-schoolstudent.Probablynot.Hehadboughtthebecausethepublisherhadhailedthefirst-timeas“anewaRydberg.”HequicklyascertaihatthiswasnotthecaseiherstyleorteheasideforawhileandinsteadreadaHopalongCassidystoryinanissueofRekasifromthemid-fifties.
Everyhalfhourheheardthecurt,mutedgofthechurchbell.Lightswerevisibleinthewindowsatthehomeofthecaretakeracrosstheroad,butBlomkvistcouldnotseeanyoneihehouse.HaraldVanger’shousewasdark.Around9:00acardroveacrossthebridgeanddisappearedtowardsthepoint.Atmidnightthelightsonthefacadeofthechurchwereturnedoff.ThatarentlythefullextentoftheeaiinHedebyonaFridaynightinearlyJanuary.Itwaseerilyquiet.
HetriedagaintocallBergerandgothervoicemail,askinghimtoleavehisnameandamessage.Hedidsoaurnedoffthelightaobed.Thestthihoughtaboutbeforehefelsleepwasthathewasgoingtorunahighriskofgoingstir-crazyinHedeby.
Itwasstraoawaketouttersilence.Blomkvistpassedfromdeepsleeptototalertnessinafraofased,aill,listening.Itwascoldintheroowas7:08—hehadneverbeenmuperson,anditusedtobehardforhimtowithouthavingatleasttwoarmclocks.Todayhehadwokenallbyhimself,andheeverested.
Heputsomewateronforcoffeebefettingintotheshower.Hewassuddenlyamusedathissituation.KalleBlomkvist—onaresearchtripinthebackofbeyond.
Theshowerheadgedfromscaldingtoice-coldattheslightesttouch.Therewasnpaperotable.Thebutterwasfrozen.Therewasnocheeseslithedrawerofkitutensils.Itwasstillpitchdarkoutside.Thethermometershowed6belowzero.ItwasSaturday.
ThebusstopforHedestadwasovertheroadfromKonsum,andBlomkviststartedoffhisexilebycarryingouthispntogoshoppingintowoffthebusbytherailwaystationandmadeatourofthetreoftown.Alongthewayheboughtheavywinterboots,twopairsoflongunderwear,severalfnnelshirts,aprh-lengthwinterjacket,awarmcap,andlinedgloves.AttheeleicsstorehefoundasmallportableTVwithrabbitears.ThesalesclerkassuredhimthathewouldatleastbeabletogetSVT,thestateTVel,outatHedeby,andBlomkvistpromisedtoaskforhismoneybackifthatturnottobethecase.
HestoppedatthelibrarytogethimselfacardandborrowedtwomysteriesbyElizabethGee.Heboughtpensandnotes.Healsoboughtarucksackforcarryinghisnewpossessions.
Finallyheboughtapackofcigarettes.Hehadstoppedsmokingtenyearsago,butoasionallyhewouldhavearepse.Hestuckthepahisjacketpocketwithoutopeningit.Hisststopwastheopti’s,andthereheboughttassolutionandorderednewlenses.
By2:00hewasbaHedeby,andhewasjustremovingthepricetagsfromhisnewclotheswhehefrontdooropen.Ablondeerhapsinherfifties—kheopenkitdoorasshesteppedacrossthethreshold.Shewascarryingaspongecakeonaptter.
“Hello.Ijustwaoeovertointroducemyself.MynameisHelenaNilsson,andIliveacrosstheroad.Ihearwe’regoingtobeneighbours.”
Theyshookhandsaroducedhimself.
“Ohyes,I’veseenyouonTV.It’sgoingtobeoseelightsoverhereintheevening.”
Blomkvistputonsomecoffee.Shebegantoobjectbutthensatatthekittable,castingafurtiveghewindow.
“HereesHenrikwithmyhusband.Itlookslikesomeboxesforyou.”
VangerandGunnarNilssondrewupoutsidewithadolly,andBlomkvistrushedouttogreetthemandtohelpcarrythefourpagcratesiheysettheboxesonthefloorothestove.BlomkvistgotoutthecoffeecupsandtoFr?kenNilsson’sspongecake.
TheNilssonswerepleasantpeople.TheydidnotseemcuriousaboutwhyBlomkvistwasiad—thefactthathewaswforHenrikVangerwasevidentlyenoughofanexpnation.BlomkvistobservedtheiioweentheNilssonsandVanger,cludingthatitwasrexedandginanysulfbetweenmasterandservants.TheytalkedaboutthevilgeandthemanwhohadbuilttheguesthousewhereBlomkvistwasliving.TheNilssonswouldpromptVangerwhenhismemoryfailedhim.He,oherhand,toldafunnystoryabouthowNilssonhadehomeonenighttodiscoverthevilgeidiotfromacrossthebridgetryingtobreakawindowattheguesthouse.Nilssoovertoaskthehalf-witteddeliwhyhedidn’tgointhroughtheunlockedfrontdoor.NilssoniedBlomkvist’slittleTVwithmisgivingandinvitedhimtoeacrosstotheirhouseiftherewaseveraprogrammehewaosee.
VaayedonbrieflyaftertheNilsso.HethoughtitbestthatBlomkvistsortthroughthefileshimself,andhecouldetothehouseifhehadanyproblems.
Whenhewasaloneoncemore,Blomkvistcarriedtheboxesintohisoffidmadeaoryofthetents.
Vanger’siigationintothedisappearanceofhisbrranddaughterhadbeengoingonforthirty-sixyears.Blomkvistwonderedwhetherthiswasahyobsessionorwhether,overtheyears,ithaddevelopedintoanintellectualgame.Whatwasclearwasthattheoldpatriarchhadtackledthejobwiththesystematicapproachofanamateurarchaeologist—thematerialwasgoingtofilltweofshelving.
Thergestseofitsistedoftwenty-sixbinders,whichwerethecopiesofthepolivestigation.Hardtobelieveanordinarymissing-personcasewouldhaveproducedsuchpreheerial.VangernodoubthadenoughclouttokeeptheHedestadpolicefollowingupbothpusibleandimpusibleleads.
Thentherewerescraps,photographalbums,maps,textsaboutHedestadandtheVangerfirm,Harriet’sdiary,hersedicalcertificates.ThereweresixteenboundA4volumesofonehundredorsopageseach,whichwereVanger’slogoftheiigations.Inthesenoteshehadrecordedinanimpeablehandhisowions,theories,digressions.Blomkvistleafedthroughthem.Thetexthadaliteraryquality,ahefeelingthatthesetextswerefaircopiesofperhapsmanymorehereweretenbinderstainingmaterialonmembersoftheVangerfamily;thesepagesweretypedandhadbeenpiledovertheinterveningyears,Vanger’siigationsofhisownfamily.
Around7:00heheardaloudmeowingatthefrontdoor.Areddish-browncatslippedswiftlypasthimintothewarmth.
“Wisecat,”hesaid.
Theiffedaroundtheguesthouseforawhile.Mikaelpouredsomemilkintoadish,andhisguestppeditup.Thehoppedontothekitbendcurledup.Andthereshestayed.
Itwasafter10:00beforeBlomkvisthadthescopeofthematerialclearinhismindandhadarraontheshelves.Heputonapotofcoffeeandmadehimselftwosandwiches.Hehadenapropermeallday,buthewasstrangelyuedod.Heofferedthecatapieceofsausageandsomeliverwurst.Afterdrinkinghiscoffee,hetookthecigarettesoutofhisjacketpocketahepack.
Hecheckedhismobile.Bergerhadnotcalled.Hetriedheroncemainonlyhervoicemail.
OhefirststepsBlomkvisthadtakenwastosthemapofHedebyIsndthathehadborrowedfromVanger.Whileallthenameswerestillfreshinhismiedownwholivedineachhouse.TheVangersistedofsuextethatitwouldtaketimetolearnho.
Justbeforemidnightheputonwarmclothesandhisnewshoesandwalkedacrossthebridge.Heturnedofftheroadandalongthesouhechurch.Icehadformedonthesoundandiheoldharbour,butfartherouthecouldseeadarkerbeltofopenwater.Ashestoodthere,thelightsonthefacadeofthechurtout,anditwasdarkalroundhim.Itwasicycoldandstarsfilledthesky.
AllofasuddenBlomkvistfeltdepressed.HecouldnotforthelifeofhimuandhowhehadallowedVaalkhimintotakingonthisassig.Bergerwasright:heshouldbeinSto—ihher,forinstandpnninghiscampaignsagainstWer?m.Buthefeltapatheticaboutthattoo,andhedidn’tevehefaiideahowtobeginpnningater-strategy.
Haditbeendaylight,hewouldhavewalkedstraighttoVanger’shouse,celledhistradgonehome.Butfromtherisebesidethechurchheakeoutallthehousesontheisndside.HaraldVanger’shousewasdark,buttherewerelightsoninCecilia’shome,aswelsinMartin’sviloutbythepointandinthehousethatwasleased.Inthesmall-boatharbourtherewerelightsoninthedraughtyoftheartistandlittlecloudsofsparkswererisingfromhisey.Therewerealsolightsoniopfloorofthecafé,andBlomkvistwonderedwhetherSusannelivedthere,andifso,whethershewasalone.
OnSundaymheawokeinpanicattheincredibledinthatfilledtheguesthouse.Ittookhimasedtogethisbearingsandrealisethatitwasthechurchbellssummoningparishioservice.Itwasnearly11:00.Hestayediilheheardameowinginthedoorwayandgotuptoletoutthecat.
Bynoonhehadshoweredaenbreakfast.Hewentresolutelyintohisoffidtookdownthefirstbinderfromthepolivestigation.Theated.FromthegablewindowhecouldseeSusanne’sBridgeCafé.Hestuffedthebiohisshoulderbagandputonhisoutdoorclothes.Whenhereachedthecafé,hefounditbrimmingwithers,andtherehehadtheaoaquestionthathadbeeninthebackofhismind:howcouldacafésurviveinabackwaterlikeHedeby?Susannespecialisedinchurchgoersandpresumablydidcoffeeandcakesforfuneralsandotherfuns.
Hetookawalkinstead.KonsumwasclosedonSundays,ainuedafewhundredyardstowardsHedestad,whereheboughtneersatapetrolstation.HespentanhourwalkingaroundHedeby,familiarisinghimselfwiththetownbeforethebridge.TheareaclosesttothechurdpastKonsumwasthetre,witholderbuildings—two-storeystoructureswhikvistguessedhadbeenbuiltinthe1910sor’20sandwhiedashortmai.Northoftheroadintotoell-keptapartmentbuildingsforfamilieswithchildren.Aloerandtothesouthofthechurchweremostlysingle-familyhomes.Hedebylookedtobearetivelywell-to-doareaforHedestad’sdeakersandcivilservants.
Wheurhebridge,theassaultonthecaféhadebbed,butSusannewasstillclearingdishesfromthetables.
“TheSundayrush?”hesaidiing.
Shenoddedasshetuckedalockofhairbehindoneear.“Hi,Mikael.”
“Soyouremembermyname.”
“Hardtofet,”shesaid.“IfollowedyourtrialonTV.”
“Theyhavetofillupthenewswithsomething,”hemuttered,anddriftedovertotheertablewithaviewofthebridge.WheSusanne’seyes,shesmiled.
At3:00Susanneannouhatshewasclosingthecaféfortheday.Afterthechurchrush,onlyafewershadeandgone.Blomkvisthadreadmorethanafifthofthefirstbihepolivestigatiouckhisohisbagandwalkedbrisklyhomeacrossthebridge.
Thecatwaswaitingoeps.Helookedaround,wwhosecatitwas.Heletitihesame,sihecatwasatleastsomesortofpany.
HemadeonemorevaioreachBerger.Obviouslyshewasfuriouswithhimstill.Hecouldhavetriedcallingherdireeattheofficeorherhomenumber,buthehadalreadyleftenoughmessages.Instead,hemadehimselfcoffee,movedthecatfartheralobendopehebihetable.
Hereadcarefullyandslowly,notwantingtomissaail.Byteevening,whenheclosedthebinder,hehadfilledseveralpagesofhisowhremindersaionstowhichhehopedtofindanswersinsubsequentbihematerialwasalrrangedinologicalorder.HecouldnottellwhetherVangerhadreahatwayorwhetherthatwasthesystemusedbythepoliceatthetime.
ThefirstpagehotocopyofahandwritteformheadedHedestadPoliceEmergere.TheofficerwhohadtakenthecallhadsignedhisnameD.O.Ryttinger,andBlomkvistassumedthe“D.O.”stoodfor“dutyofficer.”ThecallerwasHenrikVanger.HisaddressandtelephonenumberhadbeehereportwasdatedSunday,September25,1966,at11:14a.m.Thetextwasic:
CallfromHrk.Vaatingthathisbrother’sdaughterhasbeenmissingfromherhomeonHedebyIsndsiurdayafternoon.Thecallerexpressedgreat.
Aat11:20a.m.statedthatP-014hadbeeothesite.
A11:35a.m.,inalesslegiblehandthanRyttinger’s,iedthatOff.MagnussosthatbridgetoHedebyIsndstillblocked.Transp.byboat.Inthemarginanillegiblesignature.
At12:14p.m.Ryttingerisback:TelephoneversationOff.MagnussoninH-byfirmsthat16-year-oldHarrietVangermissingsinceearlySaturdayafternoon.Familyexpressedgreat.Notbelievedtohavesleptinherbedstnight.Couldnothaveleftisoblockedbridge.NoneoffamilymembershasanyknowledgeastoHV’swhereabouts.
At12:19p.m.:G.M.rmedbytelephoneaboutthesituation.
Thestnotewasrecordedat1:42p.m.:G.M.oH-by;willtakeoverthematter.
Thepagerevealedthattheinitials“G.M.”referredtoDetectiveIustafMorell,whoarrivedatHedebyIsndbyboataookovermand,preparingaformalreportonthedisappearanceofHarrietVanger.Uheinitialnotationswiththeirneedlessabbreviations,Morell’sreportswerewrittenonatypewriterandinveryreadableprose.Thefollowingpagesretedwhatmeasureshadbeentaken,withaivityahofdetailthatsurprisedBlomkvist.
MorellhadfirstinterviewedHenrikVangeralongwithIsabelVanger,Harriet’smother.ThealkedinturnwithUlrikaVanger,HaraldVanger,GregerVanger,Harriet’sbrotherMartinVanger,andAnitaVanger.Blomkvistcametotheclusionthattheseinterviewshadbeenductedatoascaleofdecreasingimportance.
UlrikaVangerwasHenrikVanger’smother,andevidentlysheheldastatusparabletothatofadowagerqueen.UlrikalivedattheVaeandwasabletoprovidenormation.ShehadgoobedearlyonthepreviousnightandhadnotseenHarrietforseveraldays.SheappearedtohaveinsistedoiiveIorMorellsolelytogiveairtoheropinionthatthepolicehadtoactatonce,immediately.
HaraldVangerrankedaswoo.HehadseenHarrietonlybrieflywheurnedfromthefestivitiesiad,buthehadnotseenhersiheaidentonthebridgeourredandhehadnoknowledgeofwhereshemightbeatpresent.
GregerVanger,brotherofHenrikandHarald,statedthathehadseenthemissingsixteen-year-oldinHenrikVanger’sstudy,askingtospeakwithHenrikafterhervisittoHedestadearlierintheday.GregerVaatedthathehadnotspokenwithherhimself,merelygivenheragreeting.Hehadnoideawhereshemightbefound,butheexpressedtheviewthatshehadprobably,thoughtlessly,goovisitsomefriendwithouttellinganyoneandwouldreappearsoon.Whenaskedhowshemightinthatcasehavelefttheisnd,heofferednoanswer.
MartinVangerwasinterviewedinacursoryfashion.HewasinhisfithepreparatoryschoolinUppsa,wherehelivedinthehomeofHaraldVaherewasnoroomforhiminHarald’scar,sohehadtakeraioHedeby,arrivingsotethathewasstrahewrongsideofthebridgeaidentandcouldnotcrossuntilteintheeveningbyboat.Hewasinterviewedinthehopethathissistermighthavefidedinhimandperhapsgivenhimsomeclueifshewasthinkingofrunningaway.ThequestionwasmetwithprotestsfromHarrietVanger’smother,butatthatmomentIorMorellerhapsthinkingthatHarriet’shavingrunawaywouldbethebesttheycouldhopefor.ButMartinhadnotspokenwithhissistersihesummerholidayandhadnormationofvalue.
AnitaVanger,daughterofHaraldVanger,waserroneouslylistedasHarriet’s“firstcousin.”ShewasinherfirstyearattheuyinStoandhadspentthesummerinHedeby.ShewasalmostthesameageasHarrietandtheyhadbeeclosefriends.ShestatedthatshehadarrivedattheisndwithherfatheronSaturdayandwaslookingforwardtoseeingHarriet,butshehadnothadtheopportunitytofindher.Anitastatedthatshefeltuneasy,andthatitwasnotlikeHarriettogooffwithouttellingthefamily.HenrikandIsabelVangerfirmedthatthiswasthecase.
WhileIorMorellwasinterviewingfamilymembers,hehadtoldMagnussonandBergman—patrol014—toahefirstsearchpartywhiletherewasstilldaylight.Thebridgewasstillclosedtotraffic,soitwasdifficulttocallinrerts.Thegroupsistedofaboutthirtyavaibleindividuals,menandwomenages.Theareastheysearchedthatafternoonincludedtheunoupiedhousesatthefishingharbour,theshorelihepointandalongthesound,theseofwoodsclosesttothevilge,andthehillcalledS?derbergetbehindthefishingharbour.ThetterwassearchedbecausesomeonehadputforwardthetheorythatHarrietmighthavegoheretogetagoodviewoftheseonthebridge.Patrolswerealsosentoutto?sterg?rdenandtoGottfried’sohersideoftheisnd,whichHarrietoasionallyvisited.
Butthesearchwasfruitless;itwasnotcalledoff