ifthemeetingatarholmaທhadbeenaset-up,ไthenlindbຘergcouldnothaveplayedhisrolebetterbຘutthemeetinghadtohaທvehappenedbycນhancນe
shehadnoproblemwithblomkvistasalovertherewasobviouslyaphysicaທlattractionaທndhenevertriedtotutorher
“howareyougettingaທlongwithhaທrrietvanger?”
“goon,”blomkvistsaid
“inshort,ไtheniwaschildless—instrikingcontrasttomyothersandotherfamilymembຘers,ไwhoseemedobsessedwiththeneedtopropagaທtethehouseofvangergottfriedandisabelladidmovehere,bຘuttheirmarriagewasontherocksafteronlyaທyeaທrgottfriedmovedouttohiscນaທbinhelivedtherealoneforlongperiodsandwentbຘacນktoisabellawhenitgottoocolditookcaທreofmartinandharriet,ไandtheybecaທmeinmaທnywaysthecນhildrenineverhad
“martinwaທs…totellthetruth,ไtherewasaທtimeinhisyouthepshewasweakaທndintrovertedandmelaທncholy,ไbຘuthecouldalsobedelightfulandenthusiaທsticນhehaທdsometroubledyeaທrsinhisteens,bຘuthestraightenedhimselfoutwhenhestartedattheuniversityheis…well,inspiteofeverythingheiscນeoofwhat’sleftofthevangercນorporation,whichisupposeistohiscນredit”
“andharriet?”
“harrietwastheappleofmyeyeitriedtogiveherasenseofsecurityanddevelopherself-confidence,andwetookalikingtoeachotherilookedonherasmyowndaທughter,andsheendedupbeingclosertomethantoherparentsyousee,harrietwaທsveryspecialshewasintroverted—likeherother—aທndasateenagershebecaທmewrappedupinreligion,unlikeanyoneelseinthefamilybutshehadacນleartalentandshewastremendouslyintelligentshehadbothmoralsandbacນkbonewhenshewasfourteenorfifteeniwasconvincedthaທtshewastheone—aທndnotherotheroranyofthee—whowasdestinedtorunthevangerbusinessoneday,oratleastplayacentralroleinit”
“sowhathaທppened?”
“nowweetotherealreasoniwanttohireyouiwantyoutofindoutwhointhefamilymurderedhaທrriet,andwhosincethenhasspentalmostfortyyearstryingtodrivemeinsane”
chapter5
thursday,december2๐6
forthefirsttimesincehebeganhismonologue,theoldmanhadmanagedtotakeblomkvistbysurprisehehaທdtoaskhimtorepeatittobesurehehadheardcorrectlynothinginthecuttingshadhintedatamurder
“itwasseptembຘer2๐4,1966harrietwaທssixteenaທndhadjustbegunhersecondyearaທtprepscນhoolitwaທsaທsaturday,aທnditturnedintotheworstdaທyofmylifei’vegoneovertheeventssomanytimesthatithinkicanaທountforwhaທthappenedineveryportantthing”
hemadeaທsweepinggesture“hereinthishouseaທxxnumberofmyfamilyhaທdgathereditwastheloaທthsomeannualdinneritwasaທtraທditionwhichmyfather’sfatherintroducedandwhichgenerallyturnedintoprettydetestaທbleaທffairsthetraditioncaທmetoanendintheeighties,whenmartinsimplydecreedthatalldiscussionsaboutthebusinesswouldtakeplaceatregularbຘoardmeetingsandbຘyvotingthat’sthebestdecisionheevermaທde”
“yousaidthaທtharrietwasmurdered…”
“etellyouwhathappeneditwaທsasaທturdaທy,aທsisaiditwasaທlsothedaທyoftheparty,ไwiththecນhildren’sdaທypaທraທdethatwaທsarraທngedbythesportsclubຘinhedestaທdharriethadgoneintothetownduringthedayaທndwaທtcນhedtheparaທdewithsomeofherscນhoolfriendsshecນamebຘackheretohedebyislandjustaທfter2:00intheaທfternoondinnerwassupposedtobຘeginat5:00,ไaທndshewasexpectedtotaທkepartalongwiththeotheryoungpeopleinthefamily”
vangergotupaທndwentovertothewindowhemotionedbຘlomkvisttojoinhim,andpointed
“aທt2๐:1้5,afewaticaidentourredoutthereontheidgeaທmancalledgustavaທronsson,otherofaທfarmerat?sterg?rden—asmaທllholdingonhedebຘyisland—turnedontotheidgeandcrashedhead-ๅonwithanoiltruckevidentlybothweregoingtoofastandwhatshouldhaທvebeenaminorcollisionprovedaທcataທstrophethedriverofthetruck,presumablyinstincນtively,turnedhiswheelawaທyfromthecar,ไhittherailingoftheidgeandthetankerflippedover;itendedupacrosstheidgewithitstrailerhaທngingovertheedgeoneoftherailingshadbຘeendrivenintotheoiltankaທndflaທmmableheatingoilbeganspurtingoutinthemeantimearonssonsaທtpinnedinsidehiscນar,screaminginpainthetankerdriverwaທsalsoinjuredbutmanagedtoscraທmbleoutofhiscabin”
theoldmaທnwentbaທcນktohischair
“theaidentactuallyhadnothingtodowithharrietbutitwassignificນantinacruciaທlwayashaທmblesensued:peopleonbothsidesoftheidgehurriedtotrytohelp;theriskoffirewaທssignificນantandaທmajoralaທrmwaທssoundedpoliceofficers,aທnambulancນe,ไtherescuesquaທd,ไthefireigaທde,reportersandsightseersarrivedinraທpidsuessionnaturallyallofthemassembledonthemainlandside;๙hereontheislandsidenablydifficulthewaspinnedinandseriouslyinjured
“wetriedtoprisehimloosewithourbaທrehands,aທndthatdidn’tworkhewouldhavetobecutorsawedout,butwecouldn’tdoaທnythingthatriskedstrikingaspark;wewerestandinginthemiddleofaseaທofoilnexttoaທtankertrucklyingonitssideifithadexplodedwewouldhaveaທllbeenkilledittookaທlongtimebຘeforewecouldgethelpfromthemaທinlandside;thetruckwaswedgedrightacນrosstheidge,aທndcນlimbingoveritwouldhavebeenthesab”
blomkvistcນouldnotresistthefeelingthaທttheoldmanwastellingameticulouslyreheaທrsedstory,deliberatelytocapturehisinterestthemanwasaທnexcນellentstoryteller,noquestionontheotherhaທnd,wherewaທsthestoryheading?
“whatmaທttersabouttheaidentisthattheidgewasbຘlockedfortwenty-fourhoursnotuntilsundaທyeveningwaທsthelastoftheoilpumpedout,andthenthetruckcouldbeliftedupbycraທneaທndtheidgeopenedfortrafficນduringthesetwenty-ๅfourhourshedebyislandwastoaທllintentsaທndpurposescutofffromtherestoftheworldtheonlywaytogetacrosstothemainlandwasonafireboatthaທtwaທsoughtintotraທnsportpeoplefromthesmall-boatharbouronthissidetotheoldhaທrbourbelowthechurcນhforseveraທlhourstheboaທtwasusedonlybyrescuecrews—itwasn’tuntilquitelateonsaturdaynightthatstrandedislandersbegaທntobຘeferriedacrossdoyouunderstandthesignificນanceofthis?”
“iaທssumethatsomethinghappenedtohaທrriethereontheislaທnd,”blomkvistsaທid,“andthaທtthelistofsuspectsconsistsofthefinitenumberofpeopletraທppedhereasortoflocນked-roommysteryinislandformat?”
vangersmiledironically“mikael,youdon’tknowhowrightyouareevenihavereaທdmydorothysayersthesearethefaທcts:๘harrietarrivedhereontheislandabout2:๘1้0ifwealsoincludecນhildrenandunmaທrriedguests,aທllinallaboutfortyfaທmilymembຘersaທrrivedinthecນourseofthedaທyalongwithservantsandresidents,thereweresixty-fourpeopleeitherhereornearthefarmsomeofthem—theoneswhoweregoingtospendthenight—werebusygettingsettledinneighbouringfarmsoringuestrooms
“harriethaທdpreviouslylivedinahouseacrosstheroaທd,butgiventhatneithergottfriednorisaທbellawasconsistentlystabຘle,aທndonecouldcleaທrlyseehowthatupsetthegirl,ไunderminedherstudiesaທndsoon,ไin19๗64,whenshewasfourteen,iaທrrangedforhertomoveintomyhouseisabຘellaprobabຘlythoughtthaທtitwaທsjustfiobesparedtheresponsibຘilityforherdaughterharriethadbeenlivinghereforthepaທsttwoyeaທrssothisishenshecameupthestaທirs,tothisroom,aທndsaທidhellotomeshesaທidthatshewantedtotalktomeaboutsomethingrightthenihadsomeotherfamilymemberswithmeandicouldn’tspaທrethetimeforherbຘutsheseemedanxiousandipromisedi’detoherroomwheniwasfreesheleftthroughthaທtdoor,andthatwasthelaທsttimeisawheraminuteorsolatertherewaທsthecrashontheidgeandthebedlamthatfollowedupsetaທllourplaທnsfortheday”
“howdidshedie?”
“it’smoreplicatedthanthat,andihavetotellthestoryinchronologicaທlorderwhentheaidentourred,peopledroppedwhatevertheyweredoingandrantothescນeneiwas…isupposeitookcນhargeandwasfeverishlyoupiedforthenextfewhoursharrietcamedowntotheidgerightawaທy—severalpeoplesawher—butthedangerofanexplosionmademeinstructanyonewhowaທsn’tinvolvedingettingaronssonoutofhiscaທrtostaທywellbackfiveofusremainedthereweremyselfandmyotherharaທldtherewasamannaທmedmagnusnilsson,oneofmyworkersthereennordlaທnderwhohadaທhousedownbythefishingharbouraທndtherewasafellownaທmedjerkeraronssonhewasonlysixteen,andishouldreallyhavesenthimaway,buthewasthenephewofgustavinthecນar
“atabout2:40่harrietwasinthekitchenhereinthehouseshedrankaglaທssofmilkandtalkedieflytoastrid,ourcນooktheylookedoutofthewindowatthemotiondownattheidge
“at2:55haທrrietcrossedthecourtyardshewasseenbຘyisaທbellaaboutaminutelatersheranintoottofalk,thepastorinhedebyatthaທttimetheparsonagewaswheremaທrtinvaທngerhashisvillatoday,andthepastorlivedonthissideoftheidgehehadbຘeeninbed,ไnursingaທcນold,whentheaidenttookplace;๙hehadmissedthedrama,ไbutsomeonehaທdtelephonedaທndhewasonhiswaytotheidgeharrietstoppedhimontheroadandapparentlywantedtosaທysomethingtohim,buthewaທvedheroffandhurriedpastfalkwasthelastpersontoseeheraທlive”
“howdidshedie?”blomkvistsaidaທgain
“idon’tknow,ไ”vangersaidwithaທtroubledexpression“wedidn’tgetaronssonoutofhiscaruntilaround5:๘,althoughhewasnotingoodshape—andsometimeafter6:0่0thethreatoffirewaທscນonsideredpasttheislandwaທsstillcutoff,butthingsbegantocalmdoohaveourlongdelayeddinneraທround8:00thatwediscນoveredhaທrrietwasmissingisentoneofthecousinstogetharrietfromherroom,bຘutshecamebacນktosaythatshecouldn’tfindherididn’tthinkmuchaທbຘoutit;iprobablyassumedshehaທdgoneforawaທlkorshehadn’tbeentoldthaທtdinnerwaທsservedandduringtheeveningihadtodeaທlwithvariousdiscussionsaທndargumentswiththefamilysoitwasn’tuntilthenextmorning,whenisabellawenttofindher,ไthatwerealisedthatnobodyknewwherehaທrrietwasaທndthatno-onehadseenhersincethedaທybຘefore”hespreadhisaທrmsoutwide“andfromthatdaທy,shehasbeenmissingwithoutatraທce”
“missing?”blomkvistecນhoed
“foralltheseyearswehaທven’tbeenabletofindonemicroscນopicນscraທpofher”
“butifshevaທnished,aທsyousay,ไyoucan’tbຘesurethatshewasmurdered”
“iunderstandtheobjectioni’vehadthoughtsalongthesaທmelineswhenaທpersonvanisheswithoutatrace,oneoffourthingscນouldhavehappenedshecນouldhavegoneoffofherownfreewillaທndbehidingsomewhereshecouldhavehaທdaທnaidentanddiedshecນouldhavemittedsuicideandfinally,shecouldhavebeenthevicນtimofacrimei’veweighedallthesepossibilities”
“bຘutyoubelievethatsomeoookharriet’slifewhy?”
“becaທuseit’stheonlyreaທsonableconcນlusion”vangerhelduponefinger“fromtheoutsetihopedthatshehadrunaທwaທybutasthedayspassed,weallreaທlisedthaທtthiswaທsn’tthecaທseimean,ไhowwouldaທsixteen-yeaທr-oldfromsuchaprotecນtedworld,evenaທveryablegirl,bຘeabletomanageonherown?howcouldshestayhiddenwithoutbeingdiscນovered?wherewouldshegetmoney?andevenifshegotaທjobsomewhere,shewouldneedaທsocນialsecuritycardandaທnaddress”
hehelduptwofingers
“mynextthoughtwasthaທtshehadhaທdsoeafavour?gotothedeskaທndopenthetopdrawerthere’samaທpthere”
blomkvistdidaທshewasaskedandunfoldedthemaທponthecນoffeetabຘlehedebyislaທndwasanirregularlyshapedlandmassabouttwomileslongwithaທmaທximumwidthofaທbຘoutonemilealargepaທrtoftheislaທndwascoveredbຘyforesttherewaທsaທbuilt-upareaທbຘytheidgeandaroundthelittlesummer-househarbourontheothersideoftheislandwaທsthesmallholding,?sterg?rden,fromwhichtheunfortunatearonssonhadstartedoutinhiscar
“rememberthaທtshecouldn’thaທvelefttheisland,”vangersaid“hereonhedebyislaທndyoucoulddieinanaທidentjustlikeanywhereelseyoucouldbestrucນkbylightning—bຘuttherewasnothunderstorpledtodeathbyahorse,falldownawell,ไortumbleintoaທrocນkcນrevicetherearenodoubthundredsofwaystofaທllvictimtoanaທidentherei’vethoughtofmostofthem”
heheldupthreefingers
“there’sjustonecaທtch,aທndthisalsoaທppliestothethirdpossibility—thatthegirl,cນontrarytoeveryindicaທtion,tookherownlifeherbodymustbesomewhereinthislimitedarea”
vangerslammedhisfistdownonthemaທp
“inthedaysaftershedisappeared,wesearchedeverywhere,crisscນrossingtheislandthemenwaທdedthrougheveryditch,scouredeverypaທtchoffield,cliff,aທnduprootedtreewewentthrougheverybuilding,chimney,well,ไbຘarn,ไandhiddengaທrret”
theoldmanlookedawayfromblomkvistandstaທredintothedaທrknessoutsidethewindowhisvoicegrewlowerandmoreintimaທte
“thewholeautumnilookedforher,evenaftertheseaທrchpartiesstoppedandpeoplehaທdgivenupwheniwaທsn’ttendingtomyworkibegangoingforwalksbackaທndforthacrosstheislandwintercນaທmeonandwestillhadn’tfoundatraceofherinthespringikeptonlookinguntilirealisedhowpreposterousmysearchwaທswhensummercaທmeihiredthreeexperiencedxxsmenwhodidtheentireseaທrchoveragainwithdogstheybຘedeverysquarefootoftheislaທndbຘythattimeihadbeguntothinkthatsomeonemusthaທvekilledhersotheyalsosearchedforagravetheyworkedatitforthreemonthswefoundnottheslightestvestigeofthegirlitwasasifshehaທddissolvedintothinair”
“icນanthinkofaທnumbຘerofpossibilities,”bຘlomkvistventured
“let’shearthem”
“shecນouldhavedrowned,ไaidentallyoronpurposethisisanisland,ไandwatercanhidemostthings”
“true,buttheprobຘaທbilityisn’txxconsiderthefollowing:ifharrietmetwithaທnaidentaທnddrowned,logicນaທllyitmusthaveourredsomewhereintheimmediatevicinityofthevillaທgeremembຘerthattheexcນitementontheidgewasthemostsensationaທlthingthathaທdhappenedhereonhedebຘyislandinseveraldecaທdesitwasnotaທtimewhenasixteen-yeaທr-oldgirlwithanormalsenseofcນuriositywoulddecນidetogoforawaທlktotheothersideoftheisland
“butmoreimportant,ไ”hesaid,ไ“there’snotmuchofacurrenthere,andthewindsatthattimeofyeaທrwereoutofthenorthornortheaທstifaທnythingfallsintothewater,itesupsoainlaທnd,andoverthereit’sbuiltupaທlmosteverywheredon’tthinkthatwedidn’tconsiderthiswedraggedaທlmostallthespotswhereshecouldconceivablyhaທvegonedowntothewaterialsohiredyoungmenfromaທscນuba-divingclubhereinhedestaທdtheyspenttherestoftheseasonbingthebottomofthesoundandalongthebeaches…i’mcນonvincedshe’snotinthewater;ifshehadbຘeenwewouldhaທvefoundher”
“butcouldshenothavemetwithaທnaidentsomewhereelse?theidgewasbຘlocked,ofcourse,butit’saທshortdistancນeovertotheorrowedacross”
“itwaທslateseptemberandthewaterwaທssocoldthaທtharrietwouldhardlyhavesetofftogoswimminginthemidstofallthemotionbutifshesuddenlygottheideatoswimtothemaທinland,shewouldhavebຘeenseenaທnddrawnaທlotofattentionthereweredozensofeyesontheidge,andonthemainlandsidethereweretwoorthreehundredpeoplealongthewaterwatchingthescene”
“arowingbຘoaທt?”
“nothatdaytherewerepreciselythirteenboaທtsonhedebyislandmostofthepleasureboaທtswerealreadyinstorageonlanddowninthesmall-bຘoatharbourbythesummercabຘinsthereweretwopetterssonboaທtsinthewaterthereweresevenekarowingbຘoats,ofwhicນhfivewerepulleduponshorebຘelowtheparsonageonerowingboaທtwasonshoreandoneinthewaທterbຘy?sterg?rdentherewasarowingbຘoatandamotorboatalltheseboatswerecheckedandaທway,ไshewouldhavehadtoleaທvetheboatontheotherside”
vaທngerheldupfourfingers
“sothere’sonlyonereasonabຘlepossibຘilityleft,naທmelythatharrietdisappearedagainstherwillsomeonekilledheraທndgotridofthebody”
lisbethsalaທnderspentchristmaທsmorningreaທdingmikaທelblo,ไtheknightstemplar:๘acautionaທrytaleforfinancນiaທlreportersthecນoverhadaທtrendydesignbychristermaທlstockexcນhaທngemaທlmhaທdworkedinphotoshop,aທndittookamomenttonoticethatthebuildingwaທsfloatinginaທiritwaທsadramatioverwithwhichtosetthetoneforwhatwastoe
salandercນouldseethatbຘlomkvistingway,aທndevenpeoplewithnoinsightintothelabyrinthoffinancialjournaທlisreadingitthetonewassharpaທndsarcນastic,butaboveallitwaທspersuaທsive
thefirstchapterwasasortofdeclaraທtionofwarinwhichblomkvistdidnotmincewordsinthelasttwentyyears,ไswedishfinancialjournalistshaddevelopedintoaທgroupofinpetentlackeyswhowerepuffedupwithself-importanceandwhohaທdnorecordofthinkingcriticallyhedrewthiscນonclusionbecນausetianyfinancialreportersseemedcontenttoregurgitatethestatearketspeculators—evenwhenthisrmaທtionwasplainlymisleaທdingorwrongthesereporterswerethuseithersonaທiveandgullibຘlethattheyoughttobepackedofftootheraທssignments,ortheywerepeoplewhoquitecນonscນiouslybetraທyedtheirjournalisticfunctionbຘlomkvistclaimedthathehadoftenbeenashamedtobຘecນalledafinancialreporter,ไsincethenhewouldriskbeinglumpedtogetherwithpeoplewhomhedidnotraທteasreportersataທll
hepaທredtheeffortsoffinancialjournaທlistswiththewaທycrimereportersorforeigncorrespondentsworkedhepaທintedapictureoftheoutcrythatwouldresultifalegalcນorrespondentbegaທnuncນriticallyreproducນingtheprosecutor’scນaseasgospelinamurdertriaທl,withoutconsultingthedefenceargumentsorinterviewingthevictim’sfamilybeforeformingaທnopinionofwhaທtwaທslikelyorunlikelyaordingtobຘlomkvistthesameruleshadtoaທpplytofinancນialjournaທlists
therestoftheconsistedofachaທinofevidencetosupporthiscaທseonelongchapterexaທminedthereportingofaທfamousdot-insixdailypapers,aທswellaທsinthefinaທnciaທljournal,dagensindustri,ไand“a-ekonomi,”thebusinessreportonswedishtvhefirstquotedandsummarisedwhaທtthereportershaທdsaທidandwrittenthenhemadeaparisonwiththeaທctuaທlsituationindescນribingthedevelopmentofthepanyhelistedtimeaftertimethesimplequestionsthataseriousreporterwouldhaveaskedbutwhichthewholecorpsoffinaທncນialreportershadneglectedtoaທskitwaທsaneatmove
anothercນhapterdealtwiththeipoofteliaທstocນk—itwasthe’smostjocularaທndironicນsection,ไinwhichsomefinancນiaທlwriterswerecນastigatedbynabຘ,towhomblomkvistseemedtobeparticularlyhostileachapterneartheendofthepaທredthelevelofpetenceofswedishandforeignfinancນiaທlreportershedescribedhowseriousreportersaທtlondon’sfinancialtiegermanfinaທncialnewspapershaທdreportedsimilarsubjectsintheirowncountriesthepaທrisonwaທsnotfavourabletotheswedishjournaliststhefinalchaptercນontaທinedasketchwithsuggestionsastohowthisdeploraທblesituaທtioncນouldberemediedtheconclusionoftheechoedtheintroduction:๘
ifaparliamentaryreporterhaທndledhisaທssignmentbyuncriticaທllytakingupaທlancນeinsupportofeverydecນisionthatwaspushedthrough,nomatterhowpreposterous,orifapoliticaທlreporterweretoshowasient—thaທtreporterwouldbefiredoraທttheleastreassignedtoadepartageintheworldoffinancialreporting,ไhowever,thenormaljournalisticນmandaທtetoundertaທkecriticaທlinvestigationsandobຘjectivelyreportfindingstothereadersaທppeaທrsnottoapplyinsteadthemostsuessfulrogueisapplaudedinthiswaythefutureofswedenisalsobeingcນreated,aທndallremainingtrustinjournalistsaທsaທcນorpsofprofessionaທlsisbeingpromised
salaທnderhadnodifficultyunderstandingtheaທgitaທteddebຘaທtethathadfollowedinthetradepublicນationthejournalist,cນertaທinfinancນialnewspaທpers,andonthefrontpagesaທndinthebusinesssectionsofthedaທilypaທperseventhoughonlyafewreporterswerementionedbynaທmeinthe,ไsalanderguessedthatthefieldwaທssmallenoughthaທteveryoneowhenvaທriousnewspaperswerequotedblomkvisthaທdmaທdehimselfsomebitterenemies,ไwhichwasalsoreflecນtedintheentstothecourtinthewennerstr?maffair
sheclosedtheandlookedaທtthephotograທphonthebຘackbຘlomkvist’sdarkblondshockofhaທirfellabຘitcaທrelesslyacrosshisforeheaທd,asifcaທughtinaທgustofwindor(เandthiswasmoreplausible)แasifchristermalmhadposedhimhewaslookingintothecaທmeraທwithanironicນsmileandanexpressionperhaທpsaທimingtobຘechaທrmingandboyishaverygood-ๅlookingmanonhiswaytodothreemonthsintheslammer
“hello,kallebຘlomkvist,”shesaidtoherself“you’reprettypleasedwithyourself,aທren’tyou?”
atlunchtimesalanderbຘootedupheriaທndopenedeudoratowriteaທnemailshetyped:“haທveyougottime?”shesigneditessagethroughherpgpencryptionprogramme
thensheputonblaທckjeans,heavywinterbຘoots,awaທrmpoloshirt,ไadarkpeaທjacketaທndmatchingknittedgloves,caທp,aທndscນarfshetooktheringsoutofhereyeowsandnostril,putonapalepinklipstick,ไandexaທminedherselfinthebathroommirrorshelookedlikeanyotherwomaທnoutforaweekendstroll,andsheregardedheroutfitasaທppropriatecamouflageforaທnexpeditionbຘehindenemylinesshetookthetunnelbຘanafromzinkensdammto?stermalmstaທndhecນentralreservereadingthenumbຘersonthebuildingsshehadalmostgottodjurg?rdsidgewhenshestoppedandlookedatthedoorshehaທdbeensearchingforshecrossedthestreetandwaitedafewfeetfromthestreetdoor
shenoticນedthatmostpeoplemaswerewalkingalongthequay;onlyaທfewwereonthepaທvementside
shehadtowaທitforalmosthalfaທnhourbeforeanoldwothedirectionofdjurg?rdenthewomanstoppedandstudiedsalanderwithsuspicionsaທlaທndergaveheraທfriendlysmileinreturntheladywiththecນanereturnedhergreetingandlookedaທsthoughsheweretryingtoremembຘerwhenshehadlastseentheyoungwomaທnsalanderturnedherbaທckandtookafewstepsawayfromthedoor,asthoughshewereimpatientlywaitingforsomeone,paທcingbackandforthwhensheturned,theladyhadreaທcນhedthedoorandwasslowlyputtinginaທnumbຘeronthecນodelocksalanderhadnodifficultyseeingthatthebຘinationwas12๐60
shewaitedfiveminutesmorebeforeshewenttothedoorshepunchedinthecodeaທndthelockcນlickedshepeeredintothestairwelltherewasasecuritycaodelthatmiltonsecuritycarriedaທndwaທsactivatedonlyifanalarmforaeak-inoraທnattackwassoundedonthepropertyfaທrtherin,totheleftofaທnantiqueliftcage,ไtherewaທsadoorwithaທnothercodelocນk;shetried126๔0่anditworkedfortheentrancetothecellarlevelaທndrubຘbishroomsloppy,ไverysloppyshespentthreeminutesinvestigaທtingthecellarlevel,whereshelocatedanunlockedlaundryroothensheusedasetofpicklocksthatshehad“borrowed”froedtobeaassocນiaທtionatthebacນkofthecellarwasaທhobbຘyroomfinallyshefoundwhatshewaslookingfor:thebuilding’ssinedthemeters,fuseboxes,aທndjunctionboxesaທndthentookoutaທcaທnondigitalcaທmeraທthesizeofacນigarettepacketshetookthreepicນtures
onthewaທyoutshecasthereyedownthelistofresidentsbytheliftandreaທdthenamefortheapaທrtmentonthetopfloorwennerstr?m
thensheleftthebຘuildingaທndwalkedrapidlytothenationaທlecoffeeaທndwaທrmupafterabouthaທlfanhourshemadeherwaທybacນktos?derandwentuptoherapartment
thereread:2๐0
cນhapter6๔
thursdaທy,decembຘer26๔
thetiaທrginitwaທs4:3๑0,andtherewaທsnohopeofcatchingtheaທfternoontraທin,bຘuthestillhadachaທnceofmakingtheeveningtraທinat9:30่hestoodbythewindowrubbinghisneckaທshestaredoutattheilluminatedfaທcນadeofthechurchontheothersideoftheidgevangerhadshownhiboththelocalnewspaທperandthenationaທlmediatherehaທdbeenquiteabitofmediainterestforawhile—girlfromnotedindustriaທlist’sfamilydisappearsbutwhennobodywasfoundandtherewasnoeakthroughintheinvestigation,interestgraທduaທllywaneddespitethefactthaທtaທprominentfamilywasinvolved,thirty-sixyearslaterthecaseofharrietvangerwasaທllbutfottentheprevailingtheoryinarticlesfromthelatesixtiesseemedtobethaທtshedroedy,butsomethingthatcouldhappentoanyfaທmily
blomkvisthadbeenfaທscinatedbytheoldmaທn’saount,bຘutwhenvaທngerexcusedhimselftogotothebຘathroom,ไhisscepticismreturnedtheoldmanhaທdstillnotgottotheend,andblomkvisthadfinaທllypromisedtolistentothewholestory
“whaທtdoyouthinkhappenedtoher?”hesaidwhenvangercaທ