r’simmediatereawasthattheycouldnotusethematerialsihadbeenobtaihroughillegalmeans.
But,ofcourse,theycoulduseit.Blomkvistpoithattheyhadnoobligationtoexpinhowtheyhadacquiredthematerial.TheycouldjustaswellhaveasourcewithaesstoWer?m’sputerwhohadburnedeverythingonhisharddrivetoaCD.
FinallyBergerrealisedonshehadinherhands.Shefeltexhaustedandstillhadquestions,butshedidnotknowwheretobegin.Atstsheleanedbackagainstthesofaandthrewoutherhands.
“Mikael,penedupiad?”
Sanderlookedupsharply.Blomkvistansweredwithaquestion.
“HowareyougettingalongwithHarrietVanger?”
“Fihink.I’vemethertwice.ChristerandIdroveuptoHedestadforaboardmeetingstweek.Wegotdrunkonwine.”
“Andtheboardmeeting?”
“Shekeptherword.”
“Ricky,Iknowyou’refrustratedthatI’vebeendugyouandingupwithexcusesnottotellyoupened.YouandIhaveneverhadsecretsfromeachother,andallofasuddenthere’ssixmonthsofmylifethatI’m…notpreparedtotellyouabout.”
BergermetBlomkvist’sgaze.Sheknewhiminsideandout,butwhatshesawinhiseyeswassomethingshehadneverseenbefore.Hewasbeggitoask.Sachedtheirwordlessdialogue.Sheartofit.
“Wasitthatbad?”
“Itwasworse.I’vebeendreadingthisversation.Ipromisetotellyou,butI’vespentseveralmonthssuppressingmyfeelingswhileWer?mhasabsorbedallmyattention…I’mstillnotready.I’dpreferitifHarriettoldyouinstead.”
“What’sthatmarkaroundyourneck?”
“Lisbethsavedmylifeupthere.Ifitweren’tforher,I’dbedead.”
Berger’seyeswidened.Shestaredatthegirliherjacket.
“Andrightnowyouoetoanagreementwithher.Sheisoursource.”
Bergersatforatime,thinking.ThenshedidsomethingthatastonishedBlomkvistandstartledSander;shesurprisedevenherself.ThewholetimeshehadbeensittingatMikael’sliving-roomtable,shehadfeltSander’seyesoaciturngirlwithhostilevibrations.
Bergerstoodupaarouableandthrewherarmsaroundthegirl.Sandersquirmedlikeawormabouttobeputonahook.
CHAPTER29
Saturday,November1–Tuesday,November25
SanderwassurfingthroughWer?m’scyber-empire.Shehadbeenstaringatherputersforalmostelevenhours.TheideathathadmaterialisedinsomeunexplorednookofherbrainduriweekatSandhamnhadgrownintoamanicpreoupation.ForfourweeksshehadisotedherselfinherapartmentandignoredanymunicationfromArmansky.Shehadspenttwelvehoursadayinfrontofherputer,somedaysmore,aofherwakinghoursshehadbroodedoverthesameproblem.
DurimonthshehadhaditenttactwithBlomkvist.Hetooreoupied,busyattheMillenniumoffices.Theyhadferredbytelephoneacoupleoftimeseachweek,andshehadkepthimupdatedonWer?m’scorrespondendotheractivities.
Forthehuimeshewentovereverydetail.Shewasnotafraidthatshehadmissedanything,butshewasnotsurethatshehaduoodhoweveryoheintricateesfittedtogether.
Thismuch-discussedempirewaslikealiving,formless,pulsatinganismthatkeptgingshape.Itsistedofoptions,bonds,shares,partnerships,loa,ierest,deposits,bankaounts,paymenttransfers,andthousandsofotherelements.Anincrediblyrgeproportionoftheassetsositedinpost-office-boxpahatownedoher.
Thefinancialpundits’mostinftedanalysesoftheWer?mGroupestimateditsvalueatmorethan900billionkronor.Thatwasabluff,oratleastafigurethatwasgrosslyexaggerated.ObviouslyWer?mhimselfwasbynomeanspoor.Shecalcutedthereassetstobeworthbetween90and100billionkronor,whichwasnothingtos.Athhauditoftheentirecorporationwouldtakeyears.AllinallSanderhadidentifiedclosetothreethousandseparateaountsandbankholdingsallovertheworld.Wer?mwasdevotinghimselftofraudthatwassoextewasnolongermerelycriminal—itwasbusiness.
SomewhereintheWer?manismtherewasalsosubstahreeassetskeptshowingupinthehierarchy.ThefixedSwedishassetswereunassaibleandgenuine,avaibletopublicscrutiny,bancesheets,andaudits.TheAmerifirmwassolid,andabankinNewYorkservedasthebaseforallliquidcapital.Thestorywasinthebusinesswiththepost-office-boxpaniesinpcessuchasGibraltarandCyprusandMacao.Wer?mwaslikeaclearinghousefortheillegalonstrade,moneyunderingforsuspeterprisesinbia,aremelyunorthodoxbusinessesinRussia.
AnanonymousaountintheCaymanIsndswasuersonallytrolledbyWer?mbutwasnotectedtoanypanies.AfewhuhsofapertofeverydealthatWer?mmadewouldbesiphootheCaymanIsndsviathepost-office-boxpanies.
Sanderworkedinatrance-likestate.Theaount—click—email—click—bancesheets—click.Shenoteddowtransfers.ShetrackedasmalltransainJapantoSingaporeandonviaLuxembtotheCaymanIsnds.Sheuoodhowitworked.Itwasasifshewerepartoftheimpulsesincyberspace.Smallges.Thetestemail.Onebriefmessageofsomeeripheraliwassentat10:00p.m.ThePGPencryptirammewasajokeforanyonewhowasalreadyinsidehisputerandcouldreadthemessageinpi:
Bergerhasstoppedarguingabouttheads.Hasshegivenupordoesshehavesomethingcooking?Yoursourceattheeditorialofficesassuredusthattheywereonthebrinkofruin,butitsoundsasiftheyjusthiredanewperson.Findoutwhat’shappening.BlomkvisthasbeenwatSandhamnforthepastfewweeks,butno-oneknowswhathe’swriting.He’sbeeheeditorialofficesthepastfewdays.yeforanadvancecopyoftheissue?/HEW/
Nothingdramatic.Lethimworry.Yooseiscooked,oldman.
At5:30inthemsheturnedoffherputerandgotoutanewpackofcigarettes.Shehaddrunkfour,no,fiveCokesduringthenight,andnowshegotoutasixthaositonthesofa.Shewaswearingonlyknickersandawashed-outcamoufgeshirtadvertisingSoldierofFortunemagazihthesloganKILLTHEMALLAGODSORTTHEMOUT.Sherealisedthatshewascold,soshereachedforab,whichsheedaroundherself.
Shefelthigh,asifshehadedsomeinappropriateandpresumablyillegalsubstance.Shefocusedhergazeoreetmpoutsidethewindowandsatstillwhileherbrainworkedattopspeed.Mamma—click—sister—click—Mimmi—click—HolgerPalmgren.EvilFingers.AndArmansky.Thejob.HarrietVanger.Click.MartinVanger.Click.Thegolfclub.Click.ThewyerBjurman.Click.Everysinglefugdetailthatshecouldevenifshetried.
ShewonderedwhetherBjurmanwouldevertakehisclothesoffinfrontofawomanagain,andifhedid,howwashegoingtoexpioosonhisstomadtheimehewenttothedoctorhowwouldheavoidtakingoffhisclothes?
AndMikaelBlomkvist.Click.
Shesideredhimtobeagoodperson,possiblyracticalPigplexthatwassometimesalittletooapparent.Andhewasunbearablyhregardtocertaiarymoralissues.Hehadanindulgentandfivingpersonalitythatlookedforexpnationsandexcusesfortheeoplebehaved,andhewoulditthattheraptorsoftheworlduoodonlyonenguage.Shefeltalmostawkwardlyprotectivewhenevershethoughtofhim.
Shedidnotrememberfallingasleep,butshewokeupat9:00a.m.withacrihernedwithherheadleaningagainstthewallbehindthesofa.Shetotteredtothebedroomandfellbacktosleep.
Itwaswithoutadoubtthebiggeststoryoftheirlives.Forthefirsttimeinayearandahalf,Bergeryihatonlyaorectacurscoopintheovenbe.SheandBlomkvistwerepolishiiesttimewhenSandercalledhimonhismobile.
“IfottosaythatWer?misstartingtogetworriedaboutwhatyou’vebeendoingtely,andhe’saskedforanadvancecopyoftheissue.”
“Howdoyouknow…ah,fetthat.Anyideanstodo?”
“Nix.Justonelogicalguess.”
Blomkvistthoughtforafewseds.“Theprinter,”heexcimed.
Bergerraisedhereyebrows.
“Ifyou’rekeepingalidoorialoffices,therearen’tmanyotherpossibilities.Providednoneofhisthugsispnningtopayyouanighttimevisit.”
Blomkvistturer.“anewprinterforthisissue.Now.AndcallDraganArmansky—Iwantsecurityhereatnightfortheweek.”BacktoSahanks.”
“What’sitworth?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“What’sthetipworth?”
“Whatwouldyoulike?”
“I’dliketodiscussitovercoffee.Rightnow.”
TheymetatKaffebaratan.SanderlookedsoseriouswhenBlomkvistsatdownonthebeoherthathefeltapangof.Asusual,shecamestraighttothepoint.
“Ioborrowsomemoney.”
Blomkvistgaveheroneofhismostfoolishgrinsandreachedforhiswallet.
“Sure.Howmuch?”
“120,000kronor.”
“Steady,steady.”Heputhiswalletaway.
“I’mnotkidding.Ioborrow120,000kronorfor…let’ssaysixweeks.Ihaveaakeament,butIdon’thaveanyooturnto.You’veghly140,000kronorinyourcurrentahtnow.You’llgetyourmoneyback.”
NopoiingothatSanderhadhackedhisbankpassword.
“Youdon’thavetoborrowthemoneyfromme,”hereplied.“Wehaven’tdiscussedyourshareyet,butit’smorethanenoughtocoverwhatyouwanttoborrow.”
“Myshare?”
“Lisbeth,IhaveaniocashinfromHenrikVanger,andwe’regoingtofinalisethedeattheendoftheyear.Withoutyou,therewouldn’tbeameandMillenniumwouldhavegoneunder.I’mpnningtosplitthefeewithyou.Fifty-fifty.”
Sandergavehimasearglook.Afroearedonherbrow.Blomkvistwasusedtohersilences.Finallysheshookherhead.
“Idon’twantyourmoney.”
“But…”
“Idon’twantonesinglekronafromyou,uesintheformofpresentsonmybirthday.”
“etothinkofit,Idon’tevenknowwhenyourbirthdayis.”
“You’reajournalist.Checkitout.”
“I’mserious,Lisbeth.Aboutsplittingthemoney.”
“I’mserioustoo.Ionlywanttoborrowit,atomorrow.”
Shedidn’tevenaskhowmuchhersharewouldbe.“I’llbehappytogotothebankwithyoutodayandlendyoutheamountyouneed.Butattheendoftheyearlet’shaveaalkaboutyourshare.”Hehelduphishand.“Andbytheway,whenisyourbirthday?”
“OnurgisNight,”shereplied.“Veryfitting,don’tyouthink?That’swhenIgadaroundwithabroombetweenmylegs.”
ShendedinZürichat7:30intheeveningandtookataxitotheMatterhornHotel.ShehadedaroomuhenameofIreneNesser,andsheidentifiedherselfusingaNianpassportinthatname.IreneNesserhadshoulder-lengthblondehair.SanderhadboughtawiginStoandused10,000kronorofwhatshehadborrowedfromBlomkvisttobuytortsthroughohetaPgue’siionalwork.
Shewenttoherroom,lockedthedoor,andgotundressed.Sheyonthebedandlookedupattheceilingintheroomthatcost1,600kronht.Shefeltempty.Shehadalreadyrunthroughhalfthesumshe’dborrowed,ahoughshehadaddedineverykronaofherownsavings,shewasstillonatightbudget.Shestoppedthinkingandfelsleepalmostatonce.
Sheawokejustafter5:00inthem.Sheshoweredaalongtimemaskiooonherneckwithathickyerofskin-colouredlotionandpowderoverit.Theseditemonherchecklistwastomakeanappoithebeautysaloninthelobbyofasignifitlymoreexpeelfor6:30thatm.Sheboughtanotherblondewig,thisoneinapage-boystyle,andthenshehadamanicure,gettingpinknailsattachedtoherownchewedones.Shealsogotfalseeyeshes,morepowder,rouge,andfinallylipstidothermake-up.Nogefrom8,000kronor.
ShepaidwithacreditcardinthenameofMonicaSholes,andsheshowedthemherBritishpassportwiththatname.
opwasCamille’sHouseofFashiondowreet.Afteranhourshecameoutwearingbckboots,asand-colouredskirtwithmatgblouse,bcktights,awaist-lengthjacket,a.Everyitemboreanexpensivedesignerbel.Shehadletthesalesgirlmakethesele.ShehadalsochosenanexclusiveleatherbriefcaseandasmallSamsocase.Theingtoucheswerediscreetearringsandasimplegoldaroundherhecreditcardhadbeeed44,000kronor.
ForthefirsttimeinherlifeSanderhadabustlihatmadeher—whenshegherselfinthefull-lengthmirror—catchherbreath.ThebreastswereasfakeasMonicaSholes’identity.Theyweremadeoftexandhadbeenboughtinhagehetraesshopped.
Shewasreadyforbattle.
Justafter9:00shewalkedtwoblockstothevenerableZimmertalHotel,wheresheedaroominMonicaSholes’name.Shegaveageneroustiptoaboywhocarrieduphersuitcase.Thesuitewasasmallone,costing22,000kronoraday.Shehadeditforonenight.Whenshewasaloookalookaround.ShehadadazzlingviewofLakeZürich,whichdidn’tiherintheleast.Butshedidspendclosetofiveminutesexaminingherselfinthemirror.Shesawatotalstranger.Big-bustedMonicaSholesinablondepage-boywig,wearingmoremake-upthanLisbethSanderdreamedofusinginawholemonth.Shelooked…different.
At9:30shehadbreakfastielbar:twocupsofcoffeeandabagelwithjarethesepeoplesoftinthehead?
Justbefore10:00MonicaSholessetdownhercoffeecup,openedhermobile,andpuhenumberofamodemuplinkinHawaii.Afterthreerings,thehandshakingtonebegan.Themodemwasected.MonicaSholesrepliedbypunginasix-digitcodeonhermobileaingamessagetaininginstrustostartaprogrammethatSanderhadwrittenespeciallyforthispurpose.
InHonolulutheprogrammecametolifeonananonymoushomepageonaserverthatwasofficiallylocatedattheuy.Theprogrammewassimple.Itsonlyfunwastosendinstrustostartanrammeinanotherserver,whithiscaseerfectlyordinarymercialISPInterserviHolnd.Thefunofthatprogramme,inturn,wastolookforthemirroredharddrivebelongingtoHans-ErikWer?mandtakemandoftheprogrammethatshowedthetentsofhisapproximately3,000bankaountsaroundtheworld.
Therewasonlyoneaountofanyi.SanderhadhatWer?mlookedattheaountacoupleoftimeseachweek.Ifheturnedonhisputerandlookedatthatparticurfile,everythingwouldappeartobenormal.Theprogrammeshowedsmallges,whichweretobeexpected,basedonnormalfluctuationsintheaountdurisixmonths.Ifduriforty-eighthoursWer?mshouldgoinandasktohavethefundspaidoutormovedfromtheaount,theprogrammewoulddutifullyreportthatithadbeendone.Iy,thegewouldhaveourredonlyonthemirroredharddriveinHolnd.
MonicaSholesswitchedoffhermobilethemomentsheheardfourshorttonesfirmingthattheprogrammehadstarted.
ShelefttheZimmertalHotendwalkedovertoBankHauserGeneral,acrossthestreet,whereshehadmadeanappoioseeHerrWaghegeneralma10:00.Shewastherethreeminutesaheadofschedule,andshespeingtimeposinginfrontofthesurveilncecamera,whichtookherpictureasshewalkedintothedepartmentwithofficesfordiscreetprivatesultations.
“Ineedsomeassistaharansas,”shesaidinlish.Whensheopenedherbriefcase,sheletdropapenfromtheZimmertalHotel,andHerrWagnerpolitelyretrieveditforher.Shegavehimanarchsmileandwroteanaounthenotepadonthedeskinfrontofher.
HerrWagnerpigeonholedherasthespoileddaughter,orpossiblymistress,ofsomebigshot.
“ThereareanumberofaountsattheBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds.Automatisferbedonebysequentialclearingcodes,”shesaid.
“Fr?uleinSholes,naturallyyouhavealltherequiredclearingcodes?”heasked.
“Abernatürlich,”sherepliedwithsuchaheavyaentthatitwasobviousshehadonlyschool-levelGerman.
Shestartedregseveralseriesofsixteen-digitnumberswithoutoncereferringtoanypapers.HerrWagnersawthatitwasgoingtobealongm,butfora4pertmissionoransas,hereparedtoskiplundhewasgoingtohavetorevisehispigeonholeforFr?uleinSholes.
ShedidnotleaveBankHauserGeneraluntiljustpastnoon,slightlyterthanpnned,andshewalkedbacktotheZimmertal.Sheputinanappearahefrontdeskbeforeshewentuptoherroomandtookofftheclothesshehadbought.Shekeptoexbreastsbutrepcedthepage-boywigwithIreneNesser’sshoulder-lengthblondehair.Sheputonmorefamiliarclothes:bootswithstilettoheels,bcktrousers,asimpleshirt,andanicebckleatherjacketfromMalungsbodeninStockholubyanymeans,butshewasnolongeranheiress.BeforeIreneNesserlefttheroom,shesortedthroughanumberofbonds,whichshepsideathinportfolio.
At1:05,afewminutesbehindschedule,shewentintoBankDorffmann,aboutseventyyardsawayfromBankHauserGeneral.IreneNesserhadmadeanappoiinadvahaHerrHasselmann.Sheapologisedforbeingte.ShespokeimpeableGermanwithaNia.
“Noproblematall,Fr?ulein,”HerrHasselmannsaid.“HowIbeofservice?”
“Iwouldliketoopenanaount.IhaveanumberofprivatebondsthatI’dliketovert.”
IreneNesserpcedherportfolioonthedeskinfrontofhim.
HerrHasselmannexamihetents,hastilyatfirst,andthenmoreslowly.Heraisedaneyebrowandsmiledpolitely.
Sheopenedfivenumberedaounts,whichshecouldaessviatheInterandwhichwereownedbyanapparentlyanonymouspost-office-boxpanyinGibraltar.Abrokerhadsetthemupforherfor50,000kronorofthemoneyshehadborrowedfromBlomkvist.Shecashedinfiftyofthebondsanddepositedthemoheaounts.Eadwasworththeequivalentofonemillionkronor.
HerbusitheBankDorffmannalsotookmoretimethaed,sonowshewasevenmorebehindonherschedule.Shehadnocetotakecareofherfinaltransasbeforethebanksclosedfortheday.SoIreneurheMatterhornHotel,whereshespentanhingarouablishherpreseshehadaheadadwenttobedearly.Sheboughtsomeaspirinatthefrontdeskandorderedawake-upcallfor8:00a.m.Thebacktoherroom.
Itwascloseto5:00p.m.,andallthebanksinEuropewereclosedforbusiness.ButthebanksinNorthandSouthAmericawereopeedupherPolihethroughhermobile.ShespentanhouremptyingthenumberedaountsshehadopeBankDorffmannearlierintheday.
Shedividedthemoneyupintosmalmountsaopayinvoicesfenumberoffialpaniesaroundtheworld.WhenshewasdohemoneyhadstrangelyenoughbeentransferredbacktotheBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds,butthistimetoairelydifferentaountthantheonefromwhichithadbeenwithdrawnearlierthatday.
IreneNessersideredthisfirststagetobesecureandalmostimpossibletotrace.Shemadeonepaymentfromtheaount:thesumofnearlyonemillionkronorositedintoanaountlioacreditcardthatshehadinherwallet.TheaountwasownedbyEnterprises,registeredinGibraltar.
Severalmieragirlwithblondepage-boyhairlefttheMatterhornbyadoorintothehotelbar.MonicaSholeswalkedtotheZimmertalHotel,noddedpolitelytothedeskclerk,andtooktheliftuptoherroom.
ThereshetookhertimeputtingonMonicaSholes’batuniform,touguphermake-up,andapplyirayerofskiothetattoobeforeshewentdowntothehotelrestaurantandhadaninsanelydeliciousfishdinner.Sheorderedabottleofvintagewihatshehadneverheardofbeforethoughitcost1,200kronor,drankonegss,andnontlylefttherestbeforeshewentintothehotelbar.Sheleftabsurdtips,whichcertainlymadethestaffnoticeher.
ShespentquiteawhileallowingherselftobepickedupbyadrunkyoungItalianwithanaristocratiamewhichshedidnotbothertoremember.Theysharedtwobottlesofchampagne,ofwhichshedrankalmostonegss.
Around11:00herintoxicatedsuitorleanedforwardandboldlysqueezedherbreast.Shemovedhishanddowntothetable,feelingpleased.Hedidohavenoticedthathewassqueezingsofttex.Attimestheyweresoloudthattheycausedacertainamountofirritationamoherguests.Justbeforemidnight,whenMonicaSholesnoticedthatahallporterwaskeepingasterhem,shehelpedherItalianboyfrienduptohisroom.
Wheothebathroom,shepouredogssofwine.SheopenedafoldedpieceofpaperandspikedthewihacrushedRohypnolsleepingtablet.Hepassedoutinamiserableheaponthebedwithinamiershedrankatoastwithhim.Sheloosenedhistie,pulledoffhisshoes,anddrewacoveroverhim.Shewipedthebottle,thenwashedthegssesihroomandwipedthemofftoobefoingbacktoherroom.
MonicaSholeshadbreakfastinherroomat6:00andcheckedoutoftheZimmertat6:55.Beforeleavingherroom,shespentfiveminuteswipingofffingerprintsfromthedoorhandles,wardrobes,toilet,telephone,andotherobjetheroomthatshehadtouched.
IreneNessercheckedoutoftheMatterhornaround8:30,shortlyafterthewake-upcall.Shetookataxiaherluggageinalockerattherailwaystation.Thenshespefewhoursvisitingnineprivatebanks,whereshedistributedsomeoftheprivatebondsfromtheCaymanIsnds.By3:00iernoonshehadvertedabout10pertofthebondsintocash,whichshedepositedinthirtynumberedaounts.Therestofthebondsshebundledupandputinasafe-depositbox.
IreneNesserwouldomakeseveralmorevisitstoZürich,buttherewasnoimmediatehurry.
At4:30thatafternoonIreneookataxitotheairport,whereshewentintothedies’roomandcutupMonicaSholes’passportintolittlepieces,flushingthemdowoilet.Thecreditcardshealsocutupandputthebitsinfivedifferentrubbishbins,andthescissorstoo.AfterSeptember11itwasnotagoodideatoattractattentionbyhavinganysharpobjeyage.
IreneookLufthansaflightGD890toOsloandcaughttheairportbustotheOslotrainstation,whereshewentintothedies’roomandsortedthroughherclothes.ShepcedallitemsbelongingtotheMonicaSholespersona—thepage-boywigandthedesignerclothes—iicbagsandtossedthemintothreedifferentrubbishtainersandwastebasketsirainstatioheemptySamsocaseinanunlockedlocker.Thegoldandearringsweredesignerjewellerythatcouldbetraced;theydisappeareddownadrainireetoutsidethestation.
Afteramomentofanxioushesitation,IreneNesserdecidedtokeepthefaketexbreasts.
BythenshedidnothavemuchtimeandtookonsomefuelintheformofahamburgerfromMald’swhileshetransferredthetentsoftheluxuryleatherbriefcasetohertravelbag.Whe,theemptybriefcaseremaineduhetable.SheboughtattetogoatakioskandrantocatchthenighttraintoSto.Shearrivedasthedoorswereclosing.Shehadedaprivatesleepih.
Whenshelockedthedoortoherpartment,shecouldfeelthatforthefirsttimeintwodays,heradrenalinelevelshadreturonormal.Sheopehepartmentwindowanddefiedtheno-smokiions.ShestoodtheresippingathercoffeeasthetrainrolledoutofOslo.
Sheranthroughherchecklisttobesurethatshehadfotteail.Afteramomentshefrownedandrummagedthroughherjacketpockets.ShetookouttheplimentarypenfromtheZimmertalHotendstudieditforseveralminutesbeforeshetosseditoutofthewindow.
Afterfifteenminutesshecreptintobedandfelsleep.
EPILOGUE:FINALAUDIT
Thursday,November27–Tuesday,December30
Millennium’sspecialreportonHans-ErikWer?mtookupallofforty-sixpagesofthemagazineandexplodedlikeatimebombthestweekofNovember.ThemainstoryappeareduhejointbylineofMikaelBlomkvistandErikaBerger.Forthefirstfewhoursthemediadidnotknowhowtohahescoop.AsimirstoryjustayearearlierhadresultedinBlomkvistbeingvictedoflibel,andithadalsoapparentlyresultedinhisbeingdismissedfromMillenniuwthesamemagazinewasbackwithastorybythesamejournalisttainingmuchmoreseriousallegationsthaicleforwhichhehadrunintosomuchtrouble.SomepartsofthereportweresoabsurdthattheydefiedmonseheSwedishmediasatandwaited,filledwithmistrust.
ButthateveniV4ledoffwithaneleven-minutesummaryofthehighlightsinBlomkvist’sausations.Bergerhadluhthehostseveraldaysearlierandgivenheranadvanceexclusive.
TV4’sbrutalprofilescoopedthestate-runnewsels,whichdidnotcmberontothebandwagonuntilthe9:00news.Bythewireservicehadalsosentoutitsfirstwirewiththecautiousheadline:VICTEDJOURNALISTAUSESFINANCIEROFSERIOUSCRIME.ThetextwasarewriteoftheTVstory,butthefactthatTTaddressedthesubjectatallunleashedfeverishactivityattheservativemneerandatadozenofthergerregionalpapersastheyresettheirfrontpagesbeforethepressesstartedrolling.Upuntilthen,thepapershadmoreorlessdecidedtoigheMillenniumallegations.
TheLiberalmneermentedonMillennium’sscoopintheformofaorial,writtenpersonallybytheeditorinchief,earlieriernoooriheoadinnerpartyasTV4startedbroadcastingitsnewsprogramme.Hedismissedhissecretary’sfrantiallsthatthere“mightbesomething”toBlomkvist’scimswiththeseterfamouswords:“Nonseherewere,ourfinancialreporterswouldhavefoundoutaboutitlongago.”sequently,theLiberaleditorinchief’seditorialwastheonlymediavoithetrythatbutcheredMillennium’scims.Theeditorialtainedphrasessuchas:persota,criminallysloppyjournalism,anddemandsthatmeasuresbetakenagainstindictableallegatiardicitizens.Butthatwastheonlytributioorinchiefmadeduringthedebate.
ThatnighttheMillenorialofficeswerefullystaffed.Atotheirpns,onlyBergerandthenewmanagior,MalinEriksson,wereduetobetheretohandleanycalls.Butby10:00p.m.theeaffwasstillthere,andtheyhadalsobeenjoinedbyhanfourformerstaffmembersandhalfadurfreencers.AtmidnightMalmopenedabottleofchampaghatwaswhenanoldacquaintaoveranadvancecopyfromoheeveningpapers,whichdevotedsixteeheWer?maffairuheheadliHEFINANCIALMAFIA.Whentheeveningpaperscameouttheday,amediafreed,thelikesofwhichhadseldombeenseenbefore.
ErikssoncludedthatshewasgoingtoenjatMillennium.
DuringthefollowiheSwedishStockExgetrembledasthesecuritiesfraudpolicebegaigating,prosecutorswerecalledin,andapanickysellingspreesetin.TwodaysafterthepublicationtheMinisterofmercemadeastatementon“theWer?maffair.”
Thefrenzydidnotmean,however,thatthemediaswallowedMillennium’scimswithoutcriticism—therevetionswerefartooseriousforthat.ButuhefirstWer?maffair,thistimeMillenniumcouldpresentavingburdenofproof:Wer?m’sownemailsandcopiesofthetentsofhisputer,whitainedbancesheetsfromsecretbankassetsintheCaymanIsndsandtwodozenothertries,secretagreements,andotherbluhatamorecautiousracketeerwouldneverinhislifehaveleftonhisharddrive.ItsoonbecameclearthatifMillennium’scimsheldupinacourtofappeals—andeveryoneagreedthatthecasewouldenduptheresooer—thenitwasbyfarthebiggestbubbletoburstintheSwedishfinancialworldsiheKreugercrashof1932.TheWer?maffairmadealltheGotabankimbrogliosandTrustorfraudspaleinparison.Thiswasfraudonsuchagrandscalethatno-oneeveospecuteonhowmanywshadbeenbroken.
ForthefirsttimeinSwedishfinancialrep,theterms“anisedcrime,”“Mafia,”and“gangsterempire”wereused.Wer?mandhisyoungstockbrokers,partners,andArmani-cdwyersemergedlikeabandofhoodlums.
Duringthefirstdaysofthemediafrenzy,Blomkvistwasinvisible.Hedidnotanswerhisemailsandcouldnotbereachedbytelephone.AlleditorialmentsonbehalfofMillenniumweremadebyBerger,whopurredlikeacatasshewasinterviewedbytheSwedishnationalmediaandimportantregionalneers,auallyalsobyagrowingnumberofoverseasmedia.EachtimeshewasaskedhowMillenniumhadeintopossessionofallthoseprivateandinternaldots,sherepliedsimplythatshewasuorevealthemagazine’ssource.
Whenshewasaskedwhythepreviousyear’sexposéofWer?mhadbeensuchafiasco,shewasevenmoredelphic.Sheneverlied,butshemaynotalwayshavetoldthewholetruth.Offtherecord,whenshedidnothaveamicrophoneunderhernose,shewouldutterafewmysteriouscatchphrases,which,ifpiecedtogether,ledtosomeratherrashclusions.Thatishowarumourwasbornthatsoonassumedlegendaryproportions,gthatMikaelBlomkvisthadnotpresentedanysortofdefehistriandhadvoluntarilysubmittedtotheprisoendheavyfinesbecauseotherwisehisdotationwouldhavelediablytotheidentificationofhissource.HearedtorolemodelsintheAmerimediatedgaolratherthaheirsources,andBlomkvistwasdescribedasaheroinsuchludicrouslyftterihathewasquiteembarrassed.Butthiswasnotimetodenythemisuanding.
Therewasohingthateveryoneagreedon:thepersonwhohaddeliveredthedotationhadtobesomeohinWer?m’smosttrustedcircle.Thisledtoadebateaboutwhothe“DeepThroat”was:colleagueswithreasontobedissatisfied,wyers,evenWer?m’scoe-addicteddaughterandotherfamilymemberswereputupaspossibledidates.herBlomkvistnermehesubject.
Bergersmiledhappily,knowingthattheyhadwonwhenaneveningpaperohirddayofthefrenzyrantheheadlineMILLENNIUM’SREVEhearticlewasaningratiatingportraitofthemagazineanditsstaff,includingillustrationsarticurlyfavourableportraiter.Shewashe“queenofiigativejournalism.”Thatsortofthingwonpointsintherankingsoftheeaipages,andtherewastalkoftheBigJournalismPrize.
FivedaysafterMillenniumfiredthefirstsalvo,Blomkvist’sTheMafiaBankerappearedinshops.ThehadbeenwrittenduringthosefeverishdaysatSandhamemberandOctober,andihasteanduheutmostsecrecyitrintedbyHallvigsRekminMong?va.ItwasthefirsttobepublishedunderMillennium’sownlogo.Itwaseentricallydedicated:ToSally,whoshowedmethebesofthespolf.
Itwasabrickofa,608pagesinpaperback.Thefirsteditionof2,000copieswasvirtuallyguaraobealosingproposition,buttheprintrunactuallysoldoutinacoupleofdays,andBergerordered10,000morecopies.
Thereviewerscludedthatthistime,atanyrate,MikaelBlomkvisthadnoiionofholdingbaceitwasamatterofpublishiensivesourcereferences.Inthisregardtheywereright.Two-thirdsofthesistedofappehatwereactualcopiesofthedotationfromWer?m’sputer.Atthesametimeastheublished,MillenniumputthetextsfromWer?m’sputerassourcematerialindownloadablePDFfilesontheirwebsite.
Blomkvist’sextraordinaryabsenceartofthemediastrategythatheandBergerhadputtogether.Everyneerinthetrywaslookingforhim.NotuntilthewasuncheddidhegiveanexclusiveinterviewtoSheonTV4,onceagainscoopie-runstations.Butthequestionswereanythingbutsycophantic.
BlomkvisteciallypleasedwithoneexgewhechedavideoofhisappearaheinterviewwasbroadcastliveattheverymomeheStoStockExgefounditselfinfreefalndahandfuloffinancialyuppieswerethreateningtothrowthemselvesoutofwindows.HewasaskedwhatwasMillennium’sresponsibilitywithregardtothefactthatSweden’seywasnowheadedforacrash.
“TheideathatSweden’seyisheadedforacrashisnonsense,”Blomkvistsaid.
ThehostofSheonTV4lookedperplexed.Hisreplydidnotfollowthepatternshehadexpected,andshewasforprovise.Blomkvistgotthefollow-upquestionheingfor.“We’reexperiengthergestsingledropioryoftheSwedishstockexge—andyouthinkthat’snonsense?”
“Youhavetodistinguishbetweentwothings—theSwedisheyandtheSwedishstockmarket.TheSwedisheyisthesumofallthegoodsandservicesthatareproduthistryeveryday.TherearetelephonesfromEri,carsfromVolvo,chisfromS,andshipmentsfromKirunatoSk?vde.That’stheSwedishey,andit’sjustasstrongorweaktodayasitwasaweekago.”
Hepausedforeffedtookasipofwater.
“TheStockExgeissomethingverydifferent.Thereisnoeyandnoproduofgoodsandservices.Thereareonlyfantasiesinwhichpeoplefromonehourtothedecidethatthisorthatpanyisworthsomanybillions,moreorless.Itdoesn’thaveathingtodowithrealityorwiththeSwedishey.”
“Soyou’resayingthatitdoesn’tmatteriftheStockExgedropslikearock?”
“No,itdoesn’tmatteratall,”Blomkvistsaidinavoicesowearyandresighathesoundedlikesomesortoforacle.Hiswordswouldbequotedmanytimesoverthefollowiheon.
“ItohatabunchofheavyspecutorsarenowmovingtheirshareholdingsfromSwedishpaoGermanones.Soit’sthefinancialghatsometoughreportershouldidentifyandexposeastraitors.They’retheoneswhoaresystematicallyandperhapsdeliberatelydamagingtheSwedisheyiosatisfytheprofitisoftheirts.”
TheV4madethemistakeofaskilythequestionthatBlomkvisthadhopedfor.
“Andsoyouthinkthatthemediadon’thaveanyresponsibility?”
“Ohyes,themediadohaveanenormousresponsibility.ForatleasttwentyyearsmanyfinancialreportershaverefrainedfromscrutinisingHans-ErikWer?m.Orary,theyhaveactuallyhelpedtobuilduphisprestigebypublishingbrainless,idotrousportraits.Iftheyhadbeendoingtheirworkproperly,wewouldnotfindourselvesinthissituationtoday.”
Blomkvist’sappearancemarkedaturningpoint.Inhindsight,BergerwasvihatitwasonlywhenBlomkvistwentonTVandcalmlydefendedhiscimsthattheSwedishmedia,inspiteofthefactthatMillenniumhadbeenallovertheheadlinesforaweek,reisedthatthestoryreallydidholdup.Hisattitudesetthecourseforthestory.
AftertheinterviewtheWer?maffairimperceptiblyslippedfromthefinancialseovertothedesksofthecrimereporters.I,ordinarycrimereportershadseldomorneverwrittenaboutfinancialcrime,exceptifithadtodowiththeRussianmosvcigarettesmugglers.CrimereporterswerenotexpectedtoiigateintricatedealingsoockExge.OneeveningpapereventookBlomkvistathiswordandfilledtwospreadswithportraitsofseveralofthebrehouses’mostimportantpyers,whowereintheprocessofbuyingupGermansecurities.Thepaper’sheadlinereadSELLINGOUTTHEIRTRY.Allthebrokerswereiomentontheallegations.Everyohemdeed.Butthetradingofsharesdecreasedsignifitlythatday,andsomebrokerswhowaolooklikeprogressivepatriotsstartedgoingagainstthestream.Blomkvistburstoutughing.
ThepressuregottobesogreatthatsombremenindarksuitsputonaedexpressionandbrokewiththemostimportantruleoftheexclusiveclubthatmadeuptheinnermostcirclesofSwedishfiheymentedonacolleague.AllofasuddeiredindustrialleadersandbankpresidentsearingonTVandansweriionsinaatdamagetrol.Everyonerealisedtheseriousnessofthesituation,anditwasamatterofdistangthemselvesasquicklyaspossiblefromtheWer?mGroupandsheddinganysharestheymighthold.Wer?mwasnot,afterall,arealindustrialist,andhehadneverbeentrulyaeptedinto“theclub.”Somepoithathewasjustasimplew-cssboyfromNorrndwhosesuessmayhavegoohishead.Somedescribedhisasasapersonaltragedy.OthersdiscoveredthattheyhadhadtheirdoubtsaboutWer?mforyears—hewastooboastfuonairs.
Duringthefollowingweeks,asMillennium’sdotationwasscrutinised,pulledapart,aogetheragain,theWer?mempireofobscurepanieswasliheheartoftheiionalMafia,includihingfromillegarmsdealingandmoneyunderingforSouthAmeridrugcartelstoprostitutioninNewYork,andevenilytothechildsextradeinMexieWer?mpaeredinCypruscausedadramaticstirwhenitwasrevealedthatithadattemptedtobuyenricheduraniumonthebckmarketinUkraine.Wer?m’sapparentlyinexhaustiblesupplyofobscurepost-office-boxpaniesseemedtobecroppingupeverywhere,lioallmannerofshadyenterprises.
BergerthoughtthatthewasthebestthingBlomkvisthadeverwritten.Itwasuylistically,andihewritingwasactuallyratherpoor—therehadbeennotimeforanyfinepolishing—butthewasanimatedbyafurythatnoreadercouldhelpbutnotice.
Bykvistranintohisoldadversary,theformerfinancialreporterWilliamB,infrontofKvarnenwhenBlomkvist,Berger,andMalmtooktheeveningofftocelebratetheSantaLuciaholidayalongwiththemagaziheremployees,goingouttodrinkthemselvessethepany’sexpense.B’spanionwasaverydrunkgirboutSander’sage.
Blomkvist’sloathingforBable.BergerinterruptedthemachopbytakingBlomkvistbythearmandleadinghimintothebar.
Blomkvistdecidedthatwhentheopportunityarose,hewouldaskSaodooneofherpersonaliigationsofB.Justforform’ssake.
Duringthewholemediastormthemaincharacterinthedrama,thefinancierWer?m,wasforthemostpartinvisible.OhatMillenniumpublisheditsarticle,thefinancierwasforentoatapressferehadbeencalledforadifferentpurpose.Hedecredtheallegationsunfoundedandsaidthatthedotationreferredtowasfabricated.Heremindedeveryohatthesamereporterhadbeenvictedoflibelonlyoneyearbefore.
AfterthatonlyWer?m’swyerswouldanswerquestionsfromthemedia.TwodaysafterBlomkvist’scameout,apersistentrumancirgthatWer?mhadleftSweden.Theeveningpapersusedtheword“fled.”Duringthesedweek,whenthesecuritiesfraudpolicetriedtotar?m,hewasobefound.Inmid-DecemberthepolifirmedthatWer?mwasformallysought,andonthedaybeforeNewYear’sEve,anall-pointsbulletinwassentoutviatheiionalpoliisations.TheverysamedayoneofWer?m’sadviserswasseizedatArndaashewasbapneforLondon.
SeveralweeksteraSwedishtouristreportedthathehadseenWer?mgetintoaBridgetown,thecapitalofBarbados.Asproofofhiscim,thetouristsubmittedaphotograph,takenfromquiteadistanceaway,showingawhitemanwearingsungsses,anopenwhiteshirt,andlight-colouredscks.Hecouldnotbeidentifiedwithcertainty,buttheeveningpaperstactedstringerswhotriedwithoutsuesstotrackdownthefugitivebillionaire.
Aftersixmonthsthehuntwascalledoff.ThenWer?mwasfounddeadinanapartmentinMarbel,Spain,wherehehadbeenlivinguhenameofVictorFleming.Hehadbeenshotthreetimesintheheadatcle.TheSpanishpolicewerewoheory,theirstatementsaid,thathehadsurprisedaburgr.
Wer?m’sdeathcameasnosurprisetoSander.Shesuspected,withgoodreason,thathisdemisehadtodowiththefactthathenolongerhadaesstothemoneyiainbankintheCaymanIsnds,whichhemayhaveopayoffcertaisinbia.
IfanyonehadaskedforSander’shelpintragWer?m,shecouldhavetoldthemalmostonadailybasiswherehewas.ViatheIntershehadfollowedhisflightthroughadozentriesandremarkedagrowingdesperationinhisemails.NotevenBlomkvistwouldhavethoughtthatthefugitiveex-billionairewouldbestupidenoughtotakealoerthathadbeenshlyperated.
AftersixmonthsSandergrewtiredoftragWer?m.Thequestionthatremaiobeansweredwashowfarherowninvolvementshouldreach.Wer?mwaswithoutadoubtanOlympic-csscreep,buthewasnotherpersonalenemy,andshehadnoiininvolvingherselfagainsthim.ShecouldtipoffBlomkvist,buthewouldprobablyjustpublishastory.Shecouldtipoffthepolice,buttherewasquiteacethatWer?mwouldbeforewarnedandagaindisappear.Besides,onprinciple,shedidnottalktothepolice.
Buttherewereotherdebtsthathadtobepaid.Shethoughtabouttheonce-pregnantwaitresswhoseheadhadbeenshoveduerinherownbath.
FourdaysbeforeWer?m’sbodywasfound,shemadeuphermind.SheswitchedonhermobileandcalledawyerinMiami,whoseemedtobeohepeopleWer?mwasmakingabigefforttohidefrohenameWer?mandanaddressinMarbel.Thatwasall.
SheturnedofftheTVnewshalfwaythroughadramaticreportaboutWer?m’sdemise.Sheputonsomecoffeeandfixedherselfaliverpatéandcucumbersandwich.
BergerandMalmweretakingcareoftheannualChristmasarraswhileBlomkvistsatinErika’schair,drinkinggl?ggandlookingon.AllthestaffandmanyoftheregurfreencerswouldreceiveaChristmasgift—thisyearashoulderbagwiththenewMillenniumpublishinghouselogo.Afteringthepresents,theysatdowntowriteandstampabout200cardstosendtoprintingpanies,photographers,andmediacolleagues.
Blomkvisttriedfortheloimetowithstaemptationbutfinallyhecould.Hepickeduptheverystcardandwrote:MerryChristmasandHappyhanksforyoursplendideffortsduriyear.
HesignedhisnameandaddressedthecardtoJanneDahlman,c/otheeditorialoffionopolyFinancialMagazine.
WhenBlomkvistgothomethateveningtherenotifyinghimofapostalpackage.Hewenttopickitupthem,openingitwheotheoffice.Thepackagetainedamosquito-repellentstidabottleofReimersholmsaquavit.Thecardread:Ifyoudon’thaveotherpns,I’llbedockedatArholmaonMidsummerEve.ItwassignedRobertLindberg.
TraditionallytheMillenniumofficeswereclosedtheweekbeforeChristmasandthroughtheNewYear’sholiday.Thisyearitdidnotworkoutthatway.Thestrainonthesmallstaffhadbeenenormous,andjournalistswerestillcallingfromallovertheworldonadailybasis.ItwasthedaybeforeChristmasEvewhenBlomkvist,almostbyce,happeoreadanartitheFinancialTimessummingupthefindingsoftheiionalbankingmissionthathadbeeablishedinallhastetoscrutihecolpseoftheWer?mempire.ThearticlesaidthatthemissionwaswonthehypothesisthatWer?mhadprobablybeentippedoffatthestminuteabouttheimpendingdisclosures.
HisaountatBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds,taining260million—approximately2.5billionSwedishkronor—hadbeeiedthedaybeforeMillenniumpublisheditsexposé.
Themoneyhadbeenspreadoveranumberofaounts,andonlyWer?mpersonallyakewithdrawals.Hedidnothavetobepresentatthebank;itwasenoughforhimtopresentaseriesofclearingcodesirahemooanybankintheworld.ThemoneyhadbeentransferredtoSwitzernd,whereafemaleassociatehadvertedthefundsintoanonymousprivatebonds.Alltheclearingcodeswereinorder.
EuropolhadunchedasearchforthewomanwhohadusedastolenBritishpassportinthenameofMonicaSholesandwhowassaidtohavelivedalifeofluxuryatoneofZürich’smostexpeels.Aretivelyclearpicture,sideringthatitcamefromasurveilncecamera,showedashortwomanwithablondepage-boy,widelips,andpromibreastswearingfashionabledesignerclothesandgoldjewellery.
Blomkviststudiedthepicture,givingitfirstaquidthenlookingatitwithincreasingsuspi.Afterseveralsedsherummagedinhisdeskfnifyinggssandtriedtomakeoutthedetailsofthefacialfeaturesintheneer’ssedimage.
Atstheputdownthepaperandsatthere,speechless,forseveralmiheartedughingsohystericallythatMalmstuckhisheadroundthedoortofindoutwhatwasgoingon.
OnthemofChristmasEveBlomkvistwentoutto?rstatoseehisex-wifeandhisdaughter,Pernil,andexgegifts.Pernilgottheputershewanted,whikvistandMonicahadboughttogether.BlomkvistgotatiefromMonidadetectivenovelby?keEdwardsonfromhisdaughter.UhepreviousChristmas,theywereinhighspiritsbecauseofthemedia
But,ofcourse,theycoulduseit.Blomkvistpoithattheyhadnoobligationtoexpinhowtheyhadacquiredthematerial.TheycouldjustaswellhaveasourcewithaesstoWer?m’sputerwhohadburnedeverythingonhisharddrivetoaCD.
FinallyBergerrealisedonshehadinherhands.Shefeltexhaustedandstillhadquestions,butshedidnotknowwheretobegin.Atstsheleanedbackagainstthesofaandthrewoutherhands.
“Mikael,penedupiad?”
Sanderlookedupsharply.Blomkvistansweredwithaquestion.
“HowareyougettingalongwithHarrietVanger?”
“Fihink.I’vemethertwice.ChristerandIdroveuptoHedestadforaboardmeetingstweek.Wegotdrunkonwine.”
“Andtheboardmeeting?”
“Shekeptherword.”
“Ricky,Iknowyou’refrustratedthatI’vebeendugyouandingupwithexcusesnottotellyoupened.YouandIhaveneverhadsecretsfromeachother,andallofasuddenthere’ssixmonthsofmylifethatI’m…notpreparedtotellyouabout.”
BergermetBlomkvist’sgaze.Sheknewhiminsideandout,butwhatshesawinhiseyeswassomethingshehadneverseenbefore.Hewasbeggitoask.Sachedtheirwordlessdialogue.Sheartofit.
“Wasitthatbad?”
“Itwasworse.I’vebeendreadingthisversation.Ipromisetotellyou,butI’vespentseveralmonthssuppressingmyfeelingswhileWer?mhasabsorbedallmyattention…I’mstillnotready.I’dpreferitifHarriettoldyouinstead.”
“What’sthatmarkaroundyourneck?”
“Lisbethsavedmylifeupthere.Ifitweren’tforher,I’dbedead.”
Berger’seyeswidened.Shestaredatthegirliherjacket.
“Andrightnowyouoetoanagreementwithher.Sheisoursource.”
Bergersatforatime,thinking.ThenshedidsomethingthatastonishedBlomkvistandstartledSander;shesurprisedevenherself.ThewholetimeshehadbeensittingatMikael’sliving-roomtable,shehadfeltSander’seyesoaciturngirlwithhostilevibrations.
Bergerstoodupaarouableandthrewherarmsaroundthegirl.Sandersquirmedlikeawormabouttobeputonahook.
CHAPTER29
Saturday,November1–Tuesday,November25
SanderwassurfingthroughWer?m’scyber-empire.Shehadbeenstaringatherputersforalmostelevenhours.TheideathathadmaterialisedinsomeunexplorednookofherbrainduriweekatSandhamnhadgrownintoamanicpreoupation.ForfourweeksshehadisotedherselfinherapartmentandignoredanymunicationfromArmansky.Shehadspenttwelvehoursadayinfrontofherputer,somedaysmore,aofherwakinghoursshehadbroodedoverthesameproblem.
DurimonthshehadhaditenttactwithBlomkvist.Hetooreoupied,busyattheMillenniumoffices.Theyhadferredbytelephoneacoupleoftimeseachweek,andshehadkepthimupdatedonWer?m’scorrespondendotheractivities.
Forthehuimeshewentovereverydetail.Shewasnotafraidthatshehadmissedanything,butshewasnotsurethatshehaduoodhoweveryoheintricateesfittedtogether.
Thismuch-discussedempirewaslikealiving,formless,pulsatinganismthatkeptgingshape.Itsistedofoptions,bonds,shares,partnerships,loa,ierest,deposits,bankaounts,paymenttransfers,andthousandsofotherelements.Anincrediblyrgeproportionoftheassetsositedinpost-office-boxpahatownedoher.
Thefinancialpundits’mostinftedanalysesoftheWer?mGroupestimateditsvalueatmorethan900billionkronor.Thatwasabluff,oratleastafigurethatwasgrosslyexaggerated.ObviouslyWer?mhimselfwasbynomeanspoor.Shecalcutedthereassetstobeworthbetween90and100billionkronor,whichwasnothingtos.Athhauditoftheentirecorporationwouldtakeyears.AllinallSanderhadidentifiedclosetothreethousandseparateaountsandbankholdingsallovertheworld.Wer?mwasdevotinghimselftofraudthatwassoextewasnolongermerelycriminal—itwasbusiness.
SomewhereintheWer?manismtherewasalsosubstahreeassetskeptshowingupinthehierarchy.ThefixedSwedishassetswereunassaibleandgenuine,avaibletopublicscrutiny,bancesheets,andaudits.TheAmerifirmwassolid,andabankinNewYorkservedasthebaseforallliquidcapital.Thestorywasinthebusinesswiththepost-office-boxpaniesinpcessuchasGibraltarandCyprusandMacao.Wer?mwaslikeaclearinghousefortheillegalonstrade,moneyunderingforsuspeterprisesinbia,aremelyunorthodoxbusinessesinRussia.
AnanonymousaountintheCaymanIsndswasuersonallytrolledbyWer?mbutwasnotectedtoanypanies.AfewhuhsofapertofeverydealthatWer?mmadewouldbesiphootheCaymanIsndsviathepost-office-boxpanies.
Sanderworkedinatrance-likestate.Theaount—click—email—click—bancesheets—click.Shenoteddowtransfers.ShetrackedasmalltransainJapantoSingaporeandonviaLuxembtotheCaymanIsnds.Sheuoodhowitworked.Itwasasifshewerepartoftheimpulsesincyberspace.Smallges.Thetestemail.Onebriefmessageofsomeeripheraliwassentat10:00p.m.ThePGPencryptirammewasajokeforanyonewhowasalreadyinsidehisputerandcouldreadthemessageinpi:
Bergerhasstoppedarguingabouttheads.Hasshegivenupordoesshehavesomethingcooking?Yoursourceattheeditorialofficesassuredusthattheywereonthebrinkofruin,butitsoundsasiftheyjusthiredanewperson.Findoutwhat’shappening.BlomkvisthasbeenwatSandhamnforthepastfewweeks,butno-oneknowswhathe’swriting.He’sbeeheeditorialofficesthepastfewdays.yeforanadvancecopyoftheissue?/HEW/
Nothingdramatic.Lethimworry.Yooseiscooked,oldman.
At5:30inthemsheturnedoffherputerandgotoutanewpackofcigarettes.Shehaddrunkfour,no,fiveCokesduringthenight,andnowshegotoutasixthaositonthesofa.Shewaswearingonlyknickersandawashed-outcamoufgeshirtadvertisingSoldierofFortunemagazihthesloganKILLTHEMALLAGODSORTTHEMOUT.Sherealisedthatshewascold,soshereachedforab,whichsheedaroundherself.
Shefelthigh,asifshehadedsomeinappropriateandpresumablyillegalsubstance.Shefocusedhergazeoreetmpoutsidethewindowandsatstillwhileherbrainworkedattopspeed.Mamma—click—sister—click—Mimmi—click—HolgerPalmgren.EvilFingers.AndArmansky.Thejob.HarrietVanger.Click.MartinVanger.Click.Thegolfclub.Click.ThewyerBjurman.Click.Everysinglefugdetailthatshecouldevenifshetried.
ShewonderedwhetherBjurmanwouldevertakehisclothesoffinfrontofawomanagain,andifhedid,howwashegoingtoexpioosonhisstomadtheimehewenttothedoctorhowwouldheavoidtakingoffhisclothes?
AndMikaelBlomkvist.Click.
Shesideredhimtobeagoodperson,possiblyracticalPigplexthatwassometimesalittletooapparent.Andhewasunbearablyhregardtocertaiarymoralissues.Hehadanindulgentandfivingpersonalitythatlookedforexpnationsandexcusesfortheeoplebehaved,andhewoulditthattheraptorsoftheworlduoodonlyonenguage.Shefeltalmostawkwardlyprotectivewhenevershethoughtofhim.
Shedidnotrememberfallingasleep,butshewokeupat9:00a.m.withacrihernedwithherheadleaningagainstthewallbehindthesofa.Shetotteredtothebedroomandfellbacktosleep.
Itwaswithoutadoubtthebiggeststoryoftheirlives.Forthefirsttimeinayearandahalf,Bergeryihatonlyaorectacurscoopintheovenbe.SheandBlomkvistwerepolishiiesttimewhenSandercalledhimonhismobile.
“IfottosaythatWer?misstartingtogetworriedaboutwhatyou’vebeendoingtely,andhe’saskedforanadvancecopyoftheissue.”
“Howdoyouknow…ah,fetthat.Anyideanstodo?”
“Nix.Justonelogicalguess.”
Blomkvistthoughtforafewseds.“Theprinter,”heexcimed.
Bergerraisedhereyebrows.
“Ifyou’rekeepingalidoorialoffices,therearen’tmanyotherpossibilities.Providednoneofhisthugsispnningtopayyouanighttimevisit.”
Blomkvistturer.“anewprinterforthisissue.Now.AndcallDraganArmansky—Iwantsecurityhereatnightfortheweek.”BacktoSahanks.”
“What’sitworth?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“What’sthetipworth?”
“Whatwouldyoulike?”
“I’dliketodiscussitovercoffee.Rightnow.”
TheymetatKaffebaratan.SanderlookedsoseriouswhenBlomkvistsatdownonthebeoherthathefeltapangof.Asusual,shecamestraighttothepoint.
“Ioborrowsomemoney.”
Blomkvistgaveheroneofhismostfoolishgrinsandreachedforhiswallet.
“Sure.Howmuch?”
“120,000kronor.”
“Steady,steady.”Heputhiswalletaway.
“I’mnotkidding.Ioborrow120,000kronorfor…let’ssaysixweeks.Ihaveaakeament,butIdon’thaveanyooturnto.You’veghly140,000kronorinyourcurrentahtnow.You’llgetyourmoneyback.”
NopoiingothatSanderhadhackedhisbankpassword.
“Youdon’thavetoborrowthemoneyfromme,”hereplied.“Wehaven’tdiscussedyourshareyet,butit’smorethanenoughtocoverwhatyouwanttoborrow.”
“Myshare?”
“Lisbeth,IhaveaniocashinfromHenrikVanger,andwe’regoingtofinalisethedeattheendoftheyear.Withoutyou,therewouldn’tbeameandMillenniumwouldhavegoneunder.I’mpnningtosplitthefeewithyou.Fifty-fifty.”
Sandergavehimasearglook.Afroearedonherbrow.Blomkvistwasusedtohersilences.Finallysheshookherhead.
“Idon’twantyourmoney.”
“But…”
“Idon’twantonesinglekronafromyou,uesintheformofpresentsonmybirthday.”
“etothinkofit,Idon’tevenknowwhenyourbirthdayis.”
“You’reajournalist.Checkitout.”
“I’mserious,Lisbeth.Aboutsplittingthemoney.”
“I’mserioustoo.Ionlywanttoborrowit,atomorrow.”
Shedidn’tevenaskhowmuchhersharewouldbe.“I’llbehappytogotothebankwithyoutodayandlendyoutheamountyouneed.Butattheendoftheyearlet’shaveaalkaboutyourshare.”Hehelduphishand.“Andbytheway,whenisyourbirthday?”
“OnurgisNight,”shereplied.“Veryfitting,don’tyouthink?That’swhenIgadaroundwithabroombetweenmylegs.”
ShendedinZürichat7:30intheeveningandtookataxitotheMatterhornHotel.ShehadedaroomuhenameofIreneNesser,andsheidentifiedherselfusingaNianpassportinthatname.IreneNesserhadshoulder-lengthblondehair.SanderhadboughtawiginStoandused10,000kronorofwhatshehadborrowedfromBlomkvisttobuytortsthroughohetaPgue’siionalwork.
Shewenttoherroom,lockedthedoor,andgotundressed.Sheyonthebedandlookedupattheceilingintheroomthatcost1,600kronht.Shefeltempty.Shehadalreadyrunthroughhalfthesumshe’dborrowed,ahoughshehadaddedineverykronaofherownsavings,shewasstillonatightbudget.Shestoppedthinkingandfelsleepalmostatonce.
Sheawokejustafter5:00inthem.Sheshoweredaalongtimemaskiooonherneckwithathickyerofskin-colouredlotionandpowderoverit.Theseditemonherchecklistwastomakeanappoithebeautysaloninthelobbyofasignifitlymoreexpeelfor6:30thatm.Sheboughtanotherblondewig,thisoneinapage-boystyle,andthenshehadamanicure,gettingpinknailsattachedtoherownchewedones.Shealsogotfalseeyeshes,morepowder,rouge,andfinallylipstidothermake-up.Nogefrom8,000kronor.
ShepaidwithacreditcardinthenameofMonicaSholes,andsheshowedthemherBritishpassportwiththatname.
opwasCamille’sHouseofFashiondowreet.Afteranhourshecameoutwearingbckboots,asand-colouredskirtwithmatgblouse,bcktights,awaist-lengthjacket,a.Everyitemboreanexpensivedesignerbel.Shehadletthesalesgirlmakethesele.ShehadalsochosenanexclusiveleatherbriefcaseandasmallSamsocase.Theingtoucheswerediscreetearringsandasimplegoldaroundherhecreditcardhadbeeed44,000kronor.
ForthefirsttimeinherlifeSanderhadabustlihatmadeher—whenshegherselfinthefull-lengthmirror—catchherbreath.ThebreastswereasfakeasMonicaSholes’identity.Theyweremadeoftexandhadbeenboughtinhagehetraesshopped.
Shewasreadyforbattle.
Justafter9:00shewalkedtwoblockstothevenerableZimmertalHotel,wheresheedaroominMonicaSholes’name.Shegaveageneroustiptoaboywhocarrieduphersuitcase.Thesuitewasasmallone,costing22,000kronoraday.Shehadeditforonenight.Whenshewasaloookalookaround.ShehadadazzlingviewofLakeZürich,whichdidn’tiherintheleast.Butshedidspendclosetofiveminutesexaminingherselfinthemirror.Shesawatotalstranger.Big-bustedMonicaSholesinablondepage-boywig,wearingmoremake-upthanLisbethSanderdreamedofusinginawholemonth.Shelooked…different.
At9:30shehadbreakfastielbar:twocupsofcoffeeandabagelwithjarethesepeoplesoftinthehead?
Justbefore10:00MonicaSholessetdownhercoffeecup,openedhermobile,andpuhenumberofamodemuplinkinHawaii.Afterthreerings,thehandshakingtonebegan.Themodemwasected.MonicaSholesrepliedbypunginasix-digitcodeonhermobileaingamessagetaininginstrustostartaprogrammethatSanderhadwrittenespeciallyforthispurpose.
InHonolulutheprogrammecametolifeonananonymoushomepageonaserverthatwasofficiallylocatedattheuy.Theprogrammewassimple.Itsonlyfunwastosendinstrustostartanrammeinanotherserver,whithiscaseerfectlyordinarymercialISPInterserviHolnd.Thefunofthatprogramme,inturn,wastolookforthemirroredharddrivebelongingtoHans-ErikWer?mandtakemandoftheprogrammethatshowedthetentsofhisapproximately3,000bankaountsaroundtheworld.
Therewasonlyoneaountofanyi.SanderhadhatWer?mlookedattheaountacoupleoftimeseachweek.Ifheturnedonhisputerandlookedatthatparticurfile,everythingwouldappeartobenormal.Theprogrammeshowedsmallges,whichweretobeexpected,basedonnormalfluctuationsintheaountdurisixmonths.Ifduriforty-eighthoursWer?mshouldgoinandasktohavethefundspaidoutormovedfromtheaount,theprogrammewoulddutifullyreportthatithadbeendone.Iy,thegewouldhaveourredonlyonthemirroredharddriveinHolnd.
MonicaSholesswitchedoffhermobilethemomentsheheardfourshorttonesfirmingthattheprogrammehadstarted.
ShelefttheZimmertalHotendwalkedovertoBankHauserGeneral,acrossthestreet,whereshehadmadeanappoioseeHerrWaghegeneralma10:00.Shewastherethreeminutesaheadofschedule,andshespeingtimeposinginfrontofthesurveilncecamera,whichtookherpictureasshewalkedintothedepartmentwithofficesfordiscreetprivatesultations.
“Ineedsomeassistaharansas,”shesaidinlish.Whensheopenedherbriefcase,sheletdropapenfromtheZimmertalHotel,andHerrWagnerpolitelyretrieveditforher.Shegavehimanarchsmileandwroteanaounthenotepadonthedeskinfrontofher.
HerrWagnerpigeonholedherasthespoileddaughter,orpossiblymistress,ofsomebigshot.
“ThereareanumberofaountsattheBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds.Automatisferbedonebysequentialclearingcodes,”shesaid.
“Fr?uleinSholes,naturallyyouhavealltherequiredclearingcodes?”heasked.
“Abernatürlich,”sherepliedwithsuchaheavyaentthatitwasobviousshehadonlyschool-levelGerman.
Shestartedregseveralseriesofsixteen-digitnumberswithoutoncereferringtoanypapers.HerrWagnersawthatitwasgoingtobealongm,butfora4pertmissionoransas,hereparedtoskiplundhewasgoingtohavetorevisehispigeonholeforFr?uleinSholes.
ShedidnotleaveBankHauserGeneraluntiljustpastnoon,slightlyterthanpnned,andshewalkedbacktotheZimmertal.Sheputinanappearahefrontdeskbeforeshewentuptoherroomandtookofftheclothesshehadbought.Shekeptoexbreastsbutrepcedthepage-boywigwithIreneNesser’sshoulder-lengthblondehair.Sheputonmorefamiliarclothes:bootswithstilettoheels,bcktrousers,asimpleshirt,andanicebckleatherjacketfromMalungsbodeninStockholubyanymeans,butshewasnolongeranheiress.BeforeIreneNesserlefttheroom,shesortedthroughanumberofbonds,whichshepsideathinportfolio.
At1:05,afewminutesbehindschedule,shewentintoBankDorffmann,aboutseventyyardsawayfromBankHauserGeneral.IreneNesserhadmadeanappoiinadvahaHerrHasselmann.Sheapologisedforbeingte.ShespokeimpeableGermanwithaNia.
“Noproblematall,Fr?ulein,”HerrHasselmannsaid.“HowIbeofservice?”
“Iwouldliketoopenanaount.IhaveanumberofprivatebondsthatI’dliketovert.”
IreneNesserpcedherportfolioonthedeskinfrontofhim.
HerrHasselmannexamihetents,hastilyatfirst,andthenmoreslowly.Heraisedaneyebrowandsmiledpolitely.
Sheopenedfivenumberedaounts,whichshecouldaessviatheInterandwhichwereownedbyanapparentlyanonymouspost-office-boxpanyinGibraltar.Abrokerhadsetthemupforherfor50,000kronorofthemoneyshehadborrowedfromBlomkvist.Shecashedinfiftyofthebondsanddepositedthemoheaounts.Eadwasworththeequivalentofonemillionkronor.
HerbusitheBankDorffmannalsotookmoretimethaed,sonowshewasevenmorebehindonherschedule.Shehadnocetotakecareofherfinaltransasbeforethebanksclosedfortheday.SoIreneurheMatterhornHotel,whereshespentanhingarouablishherpreseshehadaheadadwenttobedearly.Sheboughtsomeaspirinatthefrontdeskandorderedawake-upcallfor8:00a.m.Thebacktoherroom.
Itwascloseto5:00p.m.,andallthebanksinEuropewereclosedforbusiness.ButthebanksinNorthandSouthAmericawereopeedupherPolihethroughhermobile.ShespentanhouremptyingthenumberedaountsshehadopeBankDorffmannearlierintheday.
Shedividedthemoneyupintosmalmountsaopayinvoicesfenumberoffialpaniesaroundtheworld.WhenshewasdohemoneyhadstrangelyenoughbeentransferredbacktotheBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds,butthistimetoairelydifferentaountthantheonefromwhichithadbeenwithdrawnearlierthatday.
IreneNessersideredthisfirststagetobesecureandalmostimpossibletotrace.Shemadeonepaymentfromtheaount:thesumofnearlyonemillionkronorositedintoanaountlioacreditcardthatshehadinherwallet.TheaountwasownedbyEnterprises,registeredinGibraltar.
Severalmieragirlwithblondepage-boyhairlefttheMatterhornbyadoorintothehotelbar.MonicaSholeswalkedtotheZimmertalHotel,noddedpolitelytothedeskclerk,andtooktheliftuptoherroom.
ThereshetookhertimeputtingonMonicaSholes’batuniform,touguphermake-up,andapplyirayerofskiothetattoobeforeshewentdowntothehotelrestaurantandhadaninsanelydeliciousfishdinner.Sheorderedabottleofvintagewihatshehadneverheardofbeforethoughitcost1,200kronor,drankonegss,andnontlylefttherestbeforeshewentintothehotelbar.Sheleftabsurdtips,whichcertainlymadethestaffnoticeher.
ShespentquiteawhileallowingherselftobepickedupbyadrunkyoungItalianwithanaristocratiamewhichshedidnotbothertoremember.Theysharedtwobottlesofchampagne,ofwhichshedrankalmostonegss.
Around11:00herintoxicatedsuitorleanedforwardandboldlysqueezedherbreast.Shemovedhishanddowntothetable,feelingpleased.Hedidohavenoticedthathewassqueezingsofttex.Attimestheyweresoloudthattheycausedacertainamountofirritationamoherguests.Justbeforemidnight,whenMonicaSholesnoticedthatahallporterwaskeepingasterhem,shehelpedherItalianboyfrienduptohisroom.
Wheothebathroom,shepouredogssofwine.SheopenedafoldedpieceofpaperandspikedthewihacrushedRohypnolsleepingtablet.Hepassedoutinamiserableheaponthebedwithinamiershedrankatoastwithhim.Sheloosenedhistie,pulledoffhisshoes,anddrewacoveroverhim.Shewipedthebottle,thenwashedthegssesihroomandwipedthemofftoobefoingbacktoherroom.
MonicaSholeshadbreakfastinherroomat6:00andcheckedoutoftheZimmertat6:55.Beforeleavingherroom,shespentfiveminuteswipingofffingerprintsfromthedoorhandles,wardrobes,toilet,telephone,andotherobjetheroomthatshehadtouched.
IreneNessercheckedoutoftheMatterhornaround8:30,shortlyafterthewake-upcall.Shetookataxiaherluggageinalockerattherailwaystation.Thenshespefewhoursvisitingnineprivatebanks,whereshedistributedsomeoftheprivatebondsfromtheCaymanIsnds.By3:00iernoonshehadvertedabout10pertofthebondsintocash,whichshedepositedinthirtynumberedaounts.Therestofthebondsshebundledupandputinasafe-depositbox.
IreneNesserwouldomakeseveralmorevisitstoZürich,buttherewasnoimmediatehurry.
At4:30thatafternoonIreneookataxitotheairport,whereshewentintothedies’roomandcutupMonicaSholes’passportintolittlepieces,flushingthemdowoilet.Thecreditcardshealsocutupandputthebitsinfivedifferentrubbishbins,andthescissorstoo.AfterSeptember11itwasnotagoodideatoattractattentionbyhavinganysharpobjeyage.
IreneookLufthansaflightGD890toOsloandcaughttheairportbustotheOslotrainstation,whereshewentintothedies’roomandsortedthroughherclothes.ShepcedallitemsbelongingtotheMonicaSholespersona—thepage-boywigandthedesignerclothes—iicbagsandtossedthemintothreedifferentrubbishtainersandwastebasketsirainstatioheemptySamsocaseinanunlockedlocker.Thegoldandearringsweredesignerjewellerythatcouldbetraced;theydisappeareddownadrainireetoutsidethestation.
Afteramomentofanxioushesitation,IreneNesserdecidedtokeepthefaketexbreasts.
BythenshedidnothavemuchtimeandtookonsomefuelintheformofahamburgerfromMald’swhileshetransferredthetentsoftheluxuryleatherbriefcasetohertravelbag.Whe,theemptybriefcaseremaineduhetable.SheboughtattetogoatakioskandrantocatchthenighttraintoSto.Shearrivedasthedoorswereclosing.Shehadedaprivatesleepih.
Whenshelockedthedoortoherpartment,shecouldfeelthatforthefirsttimeintwodays,heradrenalinelevelshadreturonormal.Sheopehepartmentwindowanddefiedtheno-smokiions.ShestoodtheresippingathercoffeeasthetrainrolledoutofOslo.
Sheranthroughherchecklisttobesurethatshehadfotteail.Afteramomentshefrownedandrummagedthroughherjacketpockets.ShetookouttheplimentarypenfromtheZimmertalHotendstudieditforseveralminutesbeforeshetosseditoutofthewindow.
Afterfifteenminutesshecreptintobedandfelsleep.
EPILOGUE:FINALAUDIT
Thursday,November27–Tuesday,December30
Millennium’sspecialreportonHans-ErikWer?mtookupallofforty-sixpagesofthemagazineandexplodedlikeatimebombthestweekofNovember.ThemainstoryappeareduhejointbylineofMikaelBlomkvistandErikaBerger.Forthefirstfewhoursthemediadidnotknowhowtohahescoop.AsimirstoryjustayearearlierhadresultedinBlomkvistbeingvictedoflibel,andithadalsoapparentlyresultedinhisbeingdismissedfromMillenniuwthesamemagazinewasbackwithastorybythesamejournalisttainingmuchmoreseriousallegationsthaicleforwhichhehadrunintosomuchtrouble.SomepartsofthereportweresoabsurdthattheydefiedmonseheSwedishmediasatandwaited,filledwithmistrust.
ButthateveniV4ledoffwithaneleven-minutesummaryofthehighlightsinBlomkvist’sausations.Bergerhadluhthehostseveraldaysearlierandgivenheranadvanceexclusive.
TV4’sbrutalprofilescoopedthestate-runnewsels,whichdidnotcmberontothebandwagonuntilthe9:00news.Bythewireservicehadalsosentoutitsfirstwirewiththecautiousheadline:VICTEDJOURNALISTAUSESFINANCIEROFSERIOUSCRIME.ThetextwasarewriteoftheTVstory,butthefactthatTTaddressedthesubjectatallunleashedfeverishactivityattheservativemneerandatadozenofthergerregionalpapersastheyresettheirfrontpagesbeforethepressesstartedrolling.Upuntilthen,thepapershadmoreorlessdecidedtoigheMillenniumallegations.
TheLiberalmneermentedonMillennium’sscoopintheformofaorial,writtenpersonallybytheeditorinchief,earlieriernoooriheoadinnerpartyasTV4startedbroadcastingitsnewsprogramme.Hedismissedhissecretary’sfrantiallsthatthere“mightbesomething”toBlomkvist’scimswiththeseterfamouswords:“Nonseherewere,ourfinancialreporterswouldhavefoundoutaboutitlongago.”sequently,theLiberaleditorinchief’seditorialwastheonlymediavoithetrythatbutcheredMillennium’scims.Theeditorialtainedphrasessuchas:persota,criminallysloppyjournalism,anddemandsthatmeasuresbetakenagainstindictableallegatiardicitizens.Butthatwastheonlytributioorinchiefmadeduringthedebate.
ThatnighttheMillenorialofficeswerefullystaffed.Atotheirpns,onlyBergerandthenewmanagior,MalinEriksson,wereduetobetheretohandleanycalls.Butby10:00p.m.theeaffwasstillthere,andtheyhadalsobeenjoinedbyhanfourformerstaffmembersandhalfadurfreencers.AtmidnightMalmopenedabottleofchampaghatwaswhenanoldacquaintaoveranadvancecopyfromoheeveningpapers,whichdevotedsixteeheWer?maffairuheheadliHEFINANCIALMAFIA.Whentheeveningpaperscameouttheday,amediafreed,thelikesofwhichhadseldombeenseenbefore.
ErikssoncludedthatshewasgoingtoenjatMillennium.
DuringthefollowiheSwedishStockExgetrembledasthesecuritiesfraudpolicebegaigating,prosecutorswerecalledin,andapanickysellingspreesetin.TwodaysafterthepublicationtheMinisterofmercemadeastatementon“theWer?maffair.”
Thefrenzydidnotmean,however,thatthemediaswallowedMillennium’scimswithoutcriticism—therevetionswerefartooseriousforthat.ButuhefirstWer?maffair,thistimeMillenniumcouldpresentavingburdenofproof:Wer?m’sownemailsandcopiesofthetentsofhisputer,whitainedbancesheetsfromsecretbankassetsintheCaymanIsndsandtwodozenothertries,secretagreements,andotherbluhatamorecautiousracketeerwouldneverinhislifehaveleftonhisharddrive.ItsoonbecameclearthatifMillennium’scimsheldupinacourtofappeals—andeveryoneagreedthatthecasewouldenduptheresooer—thenitwasbyfarthebiggestbubbletoburstintheSwedishfinancialworldsiheKreugercrashof1932.TheWer?maffairmadealltheGotabankimbrogliosandTrustorfraudspaleinparison.Thiswasfraudonsuchagrandscalethatno-oneeveospecuteonhowmanywshadbeenbroken.
ForthefirsttimeinSwedishfinancialrep,theterms“anisedcrime,”“Mafia,”and“gangsterempire”wereused.Wer?mandhisyoungstockbrokers,partners,andArmani-cdwyersemergedlikeabandofhoodlums.
Duringthefirstdaysofthemediafrenzy,Blomkvistwasinvisible.Hedidnotanswerhisemailsandcouldnotbereachedbytelephone.AlleditorialmentsonbehalfofMillenniumweremadebyBerger,whopurredlikeacatasshewasinterviewedbytheSwedishnationalmediaandimportantregionalneers,auallyalsobyagrowingnumberofoverseasmedia.EachtimeshewasaskedhowMillenniumhadeintopossessionofallthoseprivateandinternaldots,sherepliedsimplythatshewasuorevealthemagazine’ssource.
Whenshewasaskedwhythepreviousyear’sexposéofWer?mhadbeensuchafiasco,shewasevenmoredelphic.Sheneverlied,butshemaynotalwayshavetoldthewholetruth.Offtherecord,whenshedidnothaveamicrophoneunderhernose,shewouldutterafewmysteriouscatchphrases,which,ifpiecedtogether,ledtosomeratherrashclusions.Thatishowarumourwasbornthatsoonassumedlegendaryproportions,gthatMikaelBlomkvisthadnotpresentedanysortofdefehistriandhadvoluntarilysubmittedtotheprisoendheavyfinesbecauseotherwisehisdotationwouldhavelediablytotheidentificationofhissource.HearedtorolemodelsintheAmerimediatedgaolratherthaheirsources,andBlomkvistwasdescribedasaheroinsuchludicrouslyftterihathewasquiteembarrassed.Butthiswasnotimetodenythemisuanding.
Therewasohingthateveryoneagreedon:thepersonwhohaddeliveredthedotationhadtobesomeohinWer?m’smosttrustedcircle.Thisledtoadebateaboutwhothe“DeepThroat”was:colleagueswithreasontobedissatisfied,wyers,evenWer?m’scoe-addicteddaughterandotherfamilymemberswereputupaspossibledidates.herBlomkvistnermehesubject.
Bergersmiledhappily,knowingthattheyhadwonwhenaneveningpaperohirddayofthefrenzyrantheheadlineMILLENNIUM’SREVEhearticlewasaningratiatingportraitofthemagazineanditsstaff,includingillustrationsarticurlyfavourableportraiter.Shewashe“queenofiigativejournalism.”Thatsortofthingwonpointsintherankingsoftheeaipages,andtherewastalkoftheBigJournalismPrize.
FivedaysafterMillenniumfiredthefirstsalvo,Blomkvist’sTheMafiaBankerappearedinshops.ThehadbeenwrittenduringthosefeverishdaysatSandhamemberandOctober,andihasteanduheutmostsecrecyitrintedbyHallvigsRekminMong?va.ItwasthefirsttobepublishedunderMillennium’sownlogo.Itwaseentricallydedicated:ToSally,whoshowedmethebesofthespolf.
Itwasabrickofa,608pagesinpaperback.Thefirsteditionof2,000copieswasvirtuallyguaraobealosingproposition,buttheprintrunactuallysoldoutinacoupleofdays,andBergerordered10,000morecopies.
Thereviewerscludedthatthistime,atanyrate,MikaelBlomkvisthadnoiionofholdingbaceitwasamatterofpublishiensivesourcereferences.Inthisregardtheywereright.Two-thirdsofthesistedofappehatwereactualcopiesofthedotationfromWer?m’sputer.Atthesametimeastheublished,MillenniumputthetextsfromWer?m’sputerassourcematerialindownloadablePDFfilesontheirwebsite.
Blomkvist’sextraordinaryabsenceartofthemediastrategythatheandBergerhadputtogether.Everyneerinthetrywaslookingforhim.NotuntilthewasuncheddidhegiveanexclusiveinterviewtoSheonTV4,onceagainscoopie-runstations.Butthequestionswereanythingbutsycophantic.
BlomkvisteciallypleasedwithoneexgewhechedavideoofhisappearaheinterviewwasbroadcastliveattheverymomeheStoStockExgefounditselfinfreefalndahandfuloffinancialyuppieswerethreateningtothrowthemselvesoutofwindows.HewasaskedwhatwasMillennium’sresponsibilitywithregardtothefactthatSweden’seywasnowheadedforacrash.
“TheideathatSweden’seyisheadedforacrashisnonsense,”Blomkvistsaid.
ThehostofSheonTV4lookedperplexed.Hisreplydidnotfollowthepatternshehadexpected,andshewasforprovise.Blomkvistgotthefollow-upquestionheingfor.“We’reexperiengthergestsingledropioryoftheSwedishstockexge—andyouthinkthat’snonsense?”
“Youhavetodistinguishbetweentwothings—theSwedisheyandtheSwedishstockmarket.TheSwedisheyisthesumofallthegoodsandservicesthatareproduthistryeveryday.TherearetelephonesfromEri,carsfromVolvo,chisfromS,andshipmentsfromKirunatoSk?vde.That’stheSwedishey,andit’sjustasstrongorweaktodayasitwasaweekago.”
Hepausedforeffedtookasipofwater.
“TheStockExgeissomethingverydifferent.Thereisnoeyandnoproduofgoodsandservices.Thereareonlyfantasiesinwhichpeoplefromonehourtothedecidethatthisorthatpanyisworthsomanybillions,moreorless.Itdoesn’thaveathingtodowithrealityorwiththeSwedishey.”
“Soyou’resayingthatitdoesn’tmatteriftheStockExgedropslikearock?”
“No,itdoesn’tmatteratall,”Blomkvistsaidinavoicesowearyandresighathesoundedlikesomesortoforacle.Hiswordswouldbequotedmanytimesoverthefollowiheon.
“ItohatabunchofheavyspecutorsarenowmovingtheirshareholdingsfromSwedishpaoGermanones.Soit’sthefinancialghatsometoughreportershouldidentifyandexposeastraitors.They’retheoneswhoaresystematicallyandperhapsdeliberatelydamagingtheSwedisheyiosatisfytheprofitisoftheirts.”
TheV4madethemistakeofaskilythequestionthatBlomkvisthadhopedfor.
“Andsoyouthinkthatthemediadon’thaveanyresponsibility?”
“Ohyes,themediadohaveanenormousresponsibility.ForatleasttwentyyearsmanyfinancialreportershaverefrainedfromscrutinisingHans-ErikWer?m.Orary,theyhaveactuallyhelpedtobuilduphisprestigebypublishingbrainless,idotrousportraits.Iftheyhadbeendoingtheirworkproperly,wewouldnotfindourselvesinthissituationtoday.”
Blomkvist’sappearancemarkedaturningpoint.Inhindsight,BergerwasvihatitwasonlywhenBlomkvistwentonTVandcalmlydefendedhiscimsthattheSwedishmedia,inspiteofthefactthatMillenniumhadbeenallovertheheadlinesforaweek,reisedthatthestoryreallydidholdup.Hisattitudesetthecourseforthestory.
AftertheinterviewtheWer?maffairimperceptiblyslippedfromthefinancialseovertothedesksofthecrimereporters.I,ordinarycrimereportershadseldomorneverwrittenaboutfinancialcrime,exceptifithadtodowiththeRussianmosvcigarettesmugglers.CrimereporterswerenotexpectedtoiigateintricatedealingsoockExge.OneeveningpapereventookBlomkvistathiswordandfilledtwospreadswithportraitsofseveralofthebrehouses’mostimportantpyers,whowereintheprocessofbuyingupGermansecurities.Thepaper’sheadlinereadSELLINGOUTTHEIRTRY.Allthebrokerswereiomentontheallegations.Everyohemdeed.Butthetradingofsharesdecreasedsignifitlythatday,andsomebrokerswhowaolooklikeprogressivepatriotsstartedgoingagainstthestream.Blomkvistburstoutughing.
ThepressuregottobesogreatthatsombremenindarksuitsputonaedexpressionandbrokewiththemostimportantruleoftheexclusiveclubthatmadeuptheinnermostcirclesofSwedishfiheymentedonacolleague.AllofasuddeiredindustrialleadersandbankpresidentsearingonTVandansweriionsinaatdamagetrol.Everyonerealisedtheseriousnessofthesituation,anditwasamatterofdistangthemselvesasquicklyaspossiblefromtheWer?mGroupandsheddinganysharestheymighthold.Wer?mwasnot,afterall,arealindustrialist,andhehadneverbeentrulyaeptedinto“theclub.”Somepoithathewasjustasimplew-cssboyfromNorrndwhosesuessmayhavegoohishead.Somedescribedhisasasapersonaltragedy.OthersdiscoveredthattheyhadhadtheirdoubtsaboutWer?mforyears—hewastooboastfuonairs.
Duringthefollowingweeks,asMillennium’sdotationwasscrutinised,pulledapart,aogetheragain,theWer?mempireofobscurepanieswasliheheartoftheiionalMafia,includihingfromillegarmsdealingandmoneyunderingforSouthAmeridrugcartelstoprostitutioninNewYork,andevenilytothechildsextradeinMexieWer?mpaeredinCypruscausedadramaticstirwhenitwasrevealedthatithadattemptedtobuyenricheduraniumonthebckmarketinUkraine.Wer?m’sapparentlyinexhaustiblesupplyofobscurepost-office-boxpaniesseemedtobecroppingupeverywhere,lioallmannerofshadyenterprises.
BergerthoughtthatthewasthebestthingBlomkvisthadeverwritten.Itwasuylistically,andihewritingwasactuallyratherpoor—therehadbeennotimeforanyfinepolishing—butthewasanimatedbyafurythatnoreadercouldhelpbutnotice.
Bykvistranintohisoldadversary,theformerfinancialreporterWilliamB,infrontofKvarnenwhenBlomkvist,Berger,andMalmtooktheeveningofftocelebratetheSantaLuciaholidayalongwiththemagaziheremployees,goingouttodrinkthemselvessethepany’sexpense.B’spanionwasaverydrunkgirboutSander’sage.
Blomkvist’sloathingforBable.BergerinterruptedthemachopbytakingBlomkvistbythearmandleadinghimintothebar.
Blomkvistdecidedthatwhentheopportunityarose,hewouldaskSaodooneofherpersonaliigationsofB.Justforform’ssake.
Duringthewholemediastormthemaincharacterinthedrama,thefinancierWer?m,wasforthemostpartinvisible.OhatMillenniumpublisheditsarticle,thefinancierwasforentoatapressferehadbeencalledforadifferentpurpose.Hedecredtheallegationsunfoundedandsaidthatthedotationreferredtowasfabricated.Heremindedeveryohatthesamereporterhadbeenvictedoflibelonlyoneyearbefore.
AfterthatonlyWer?m’swyerswouldanswerquestionsfromthemedia.TwodaysafterBlomkvist’scameout,apersistentrumancirgthatWer?mhadleftSweden.Theeveningpapersusedtheword“fled.”Duringthesedweek,whenthesecuritiesfraudpolicetriedtotar?m,hewasobefound.Inmid-DecemberthepolifirmedthatWer?mwasformallysought,andonthedaybeforeNewYear’sEve,anall-pointsbulletinwassentoutviatheiionalpoliisations.TheverysamedayoneofWer?m’sadviserswasseizedatArndaashewasbapneforLondon.
SeveralweeksteraSwedishtouristreportedthathehadseenWer?mgetintoaBridgetown,thecapitalofBarbados.Asproofofhiscim,thetouristsubmittedaphotograph,takenfromquiteadistanceaway,showingawhitemanwearingsungsses,anopenwhiteshirt,andlight-colouredscks.Hecouldnotbeidentifiedwithcertainty,buttheeveningpaperstactedstringerswhotriedwithoutsuesstotrackdownthefugitivebillionaire.
Aftersixmonthsthehuntwascalledoff.ThenWer?mwasfounddeadinanapartmentinMarbel,Spain,wherehehadbeenlivinguhenameofVictorFleming.Hehadbeenshotthreetimesintheheadatcle.TheSpanishpolicewerewoheory,theirstatementsaid,thathehadsurprisedaburgr.
Wer?m’sdeathcameasnosurprisetoSander.Shesuspected,withgoodreason,thathisdemisehadtodowiththefactthathenolongerhadaesstothemoneyiainbankintheCaymanIsnds,whichhemayhaveopayoffcertaisinbia.
IfanyonehadaskedforSander’shelpintragWer?m,shecouldhavetoldthemalmostonadailybasiswherehewas.ViatheIntershehadfollowedhisflightthroughadozentriesandremarkedagrowingdesperationinhisemails.NotevenBlomkvistwouldhavethoughtthatthefugitiveex-billionairewouldbestupidenoughtotakealoerthathadbeenshlyperated.
AftersixmonthsSandergrewtiredoftragWer?m.Thequestionthatremaiobeansweredwashowfarherowninvolvementshouldreach.Wer?mwaswithoutadoubtanOlympic-csscreep,buthewasnotherpersonalenemy,andshehadnoiininvolvingherselfagainsthim.ShecouldtipoffBlomkvist,buthewouldprobablyjustpublishastory.Shecouldtipoffthepolice,buttherewasquiteacethatWer?mwouldbeforewarnedandagaindisappear.Besides,onprinciple,shedidnottalktothepolice.
Buttherewereotherdebtsthathadtobepaid.Shethoughtabouttheonce-pregnantwaitresswhoseheadhadbeenshoveduerinherownbath.
FourdaysbeforeWer?m’sbodywasfound,shemadeuphermind.SheswitchedonhermobileandcalledawyerinMiami,whoseemedtobeohepeopleWer?mwasmakingabigefforttohidefrohenameWer?mandanaddressinMarbel.Thatwasall.
SheturnedofftheTVnewshalfwaythroughadramaticreportaboutWer?m’sdemise.Sheputonsomecoffeeandfixedherselfaliverpatéandcucumbersandwich.
BergerandMalmweretakingcareoftheannualChristmasarraswhileBlomkvistsatinErika’schair,drinkinggl?ggandlookingon.AllthestaffandmanyoftheregurfreencerswouldreceiveaChristmasgift—thisyearashoulderbagwiththenewMillenniumpublishinghouselogo.Afteringthepresents,theysatdowntowriteandstampabout200cardstosendtoprintingpanies,photographers,andmediacolleagues.
Blomkvisttriedfortheloimetowithstaemptationbutfinallyhecould.Hepickeduptheverystcardandwrote:MerryChristmasandHappyhanksforyoursplendideffortsduriyear.
HesignedhisnameandaddressedthecardtoJanneDahlman,c/otheeditorialoffionopolyFinancialMagazine.
WhenBlomkvistgothomethateveningtherenotifyinghimofapostalpackage.Hewenttopickitupthem,openingitwheotheoffice.Thepackagetainedamosquito-repellentstidabottleofReimersholmsaquavit.Thecardread:Ifyoudon’thaveotherpns,I’llbedockedatArholmaonMidsummerEve.ItwassignedRobertLindberg.
TraditionallytheMillenniumofficeswereclosedtheweekbeforeChristmasandthroughtheNewYear’sholiday.Thisyearitdidnotworkoutthatway.Thestrainonthesmallstaffhadbeenenormous,andjournalistswerestillcallingfromallovertheworldonadailybasis.ItwasthedaybeforeChristmasEvewhenBlomkvist,almostbyce,happeoreadanartitheFinancialTimessummingupthefindingsoftheiionalbankingmissionthathadbeeablishedinallhastetoscrutihecolpseoftheWer?mempire.ThearticlesaidthatthemissionwaswonthehypothesisthatWer?mhadprobablybeentippedoffatthestminuteabouttheimpendingdisclosures.
HisaountatBankofKroenenfeldintheCaymanIsnds,taining260million—approximately2.5billionSwedishkronor—hadbeeiedthedaybeforeMillenniumpublisheditsexposé.
Themoneyhadbeenspreadoveranumberofaounts,andonlyWer?mpersonallyakewithdrawals.Hedidnothavetobepresentatthebank;itwasenoughforhimtopresentaseriesofclearingcodesirahemooanybankintheworld.ThemoneyhadbeentransferredtoSwitzernd,whereafemaleassociatehadvertedthefundsintoanonymousprivatebonds.Alltheclearingcodeswereinorder.
EuropolhadunchedasearchforthewomanwhohadusedastolenBritishpassportinthenameofMonicaSholesandwhowassaidtohavelivedalifeofluxuryatoneofZürich’smostexpeels.Aretivelyclearpicture,sideringthatitcamefromasurveilncecamera,showedashortwomanwithablondepage-boy,widelips,andpromibreastswearingfashionabledesignerclothesandgoldjewellery.
Blomkviststudiedthepicture,givingitfirstaquidthenlookingatitwithincreasingsuspi.Afterseveralsedsherummagedinhisdeskfnifyinggssandtriedtomakeoutthedetailsofthefacialfeaturesintheneer’ssedimage.
Atstheputdownthepaperandsatthere,speechless,forseveralmiheartedughingsohystericallythatMalmstuckhisheadroundthedoortofindoutwhatwasgoingon.
OnthemofChristmasEveBlomkvistwentoutto?rstatoseehisex-wifeandhisdaughter,Pernil,andexgegifts.Pernilgottheputershewanted,whikvistandMonicahadboughttogether.BlomkvistgotatiefromMonidadetectivenovelby?keEdwardsonfromhisdaughter.UhepreviousChristmas,theywereinhighspiritsbecauseofthemedia