hetendedtobelievethefirstbutitmayhavebeenthatlindberg,forhisownpersonaທlorbusinessreaທsons,hadwantedtodaທmagewennerstr?m,andhehaທdseizedtheopportunityofhavingacນaptivejournalistonboardlindberghaທdbeensoberenoughtoinsistonbຘlomkvisttreatinghientlindbergcນouldsaywhatheliked,becausehisfriendwouldneverbeabletodisclosehissource
blomkvisthadneverheardoflisbethsalanderandwashappilyinnocນentofherreportdeliveredearlierthaທtday,buthaທdhelistenedtoithewouldhavenoddedinaທgreementwhenshespokeofhisloathingforbຘeancounters,saທyingthatitwaທsnotamanifestaທtionofhisleft-wingpoliticນalradicalismmikaelwasnotuninterestedinpoliticນs,buthewasextres”hehadvotedonlyonceinapaທrliamentaryelection—in1้98๖2—andthenhehaທdhesitantlyplumpedforthesocialdemocrats,therebeingnothinginhisimaginationworsethanthreeyeaທrsmorewithg?stabohmanasfinanceministerandthorbj?rnf?lldin(orpossiblyolaullsten)asprimeministersohehadvotedforolofpalme,aທndgotinsteadtheassassinaທtionofhisprimeministerplustheboforsscaທndalandebbຘecarlsson
salaທnderlookedupshaທrplyblomkvistansweredwithaquestion
“andthebຘoardmeeting?”
“goon,”blomkvistsaid
“inshort,ไtheniwaschildless—instrikingcontrasttomyothersandotherfamilymembຘers,whoseemedobsessedwiththeneedtopropagatethehouseofvangergottfriedandisabelladidmovehere,bຘuttheirmaທrriagewasontherocksafteronlyayeargottfriedmovedouttohiscaທbinhelivedtherealoneforlongperiodsandwentbຘacktoisabຘellawhenitgottoocນolditookcaທreofmaທrtinandharriet,andtheybecameinmanywaທysthecນhildrenineverhad
“martinwas…totellthetruth,therewasatimeinhisyouthepshewasweaທkandintrovertedandmelancນholy,bຘuthecouldalsobຘedelightfulandenthusiastichehaທdsometroubຘledyeaທrsinhisteens,buthestraightenedhimselfoutwhenhestartedaທttheuniversityheis…well,ไinspiteofeverythingheisceoofwhat’sleftofthevangercorporaທtion,whichisupposeistohiscredit”
“andhaທrriet?”
“haທrrietwastheaທppleofmyeyeitriedtogiveherasenseofsecurityanddevelopherself-ๅconfidence,ไandwetookalikingtoeachotherilookedonherasmyowndaughter,andsheendedupbeingclosertomethantoherpaທrentsyousee,harrietwaທsveryspeciaທlshewasintroverted—likeherother—aທndasateenagershebecamewrappedupinreligion,unlikeanyoneelseinthefamilybຘutshehaທdaທcleartaທlentandshewastremendouslyintelligentshehadbothmoraທlsandbຘaທckbຘonewhenshewasfourteenorfifteeniwascນonvincedthatshewastheone—andnotherotheroranyofthee—whowasdestinedtorunthevaທngerbຘusinessoneday,oratleastplayaທcentralroleinit”
“sowhathappened?”
“nowweetotherealreasoniwanttohireyouiwantyoutofindoutwhointhefamilymurderedharriet,andwhosincethenhasspentalmostfortyyearstryingtodrivemeinsane”
chapter5
thursday,december26๔
forthefirsttimesincehebegaທnhismonologue,theoldmanhadmanagedtotaທkeblomkvistbysurprisehehadtoaທskhimtorepeatittobesurehehaທdheardcorrectlynothinginthecuttingshadhintedatamurder
“itwasseptember24๒,1966harrietwassixteenandhadjustbegunhersecນondyearatprepschoolitwaທsasaturday,aທnditturnedintotheworstdaທyofmylifei’vegoneovertheeventssomanytimesthatithinkicaທnaountforwhaທthappenedineveryportantthing”
hemadeasweepinggesture“hereinthishouseaxxnumberofmyfaທmilyhadgathereditwastheloathsomeaທnnualdinneritwasaທtraditionwhichmyfather’sfatherintroducedandwhichgenerallyturnedintoprettydetestableaffairsthetraditioncametoanendintheeighties,ไwhenmartinsimplydecreedthatalldiscussionsabຘoutthebusinesswouldtakeplaceatregularbຘoardmeetingsandbyvotingthat’sthebestdecisionheevermaທde”
“yousaidthatharrietwaທsmurdered…”
“etellyouwhathappeneditwaທsasaturday,asisaທiditwaທsalsothedayoftheparty,ไwiththechildren’sdayparadethatwasarraທngedbຘythesportsclubຘinhedestadhaທrriethadgoneintothetownduringthedaທyandwatchedtheparadewithsomeofherscນhoolfriendsshecນamebacນkheretohedebyislandjustaທfter2:๘00intheafternoondinnerwaທssupposedtobຘeginat5:00,aທndshewasexpectedtotakepaທrtalongwiththeotheryoungpeopleinthefamily”
vangergotupandwentovertothewindowhemotionedblomkvisttojoinhim,andpointed
“aທt2:15๓,ไaທfewaticaidentourredoutthereontheidgeamancalledgustavaທronsson,otherofafarmerat?sterg?rden—asmallholdingonhedebyisland—turnedontotheidgeaທndcrashedhead-ๅonwithanoiltrucນkevidentlybຘothweregoingtoofastandwhaທtshouldhaທvebeenaminorcollisionprovedacatastrophethedriverofthetruck,presumaທblyinstincນtively,turnedhiswheelawayfromthecar,hittheraທilingoftheidgeandthetankerflippedover;itendedupacrosstheidgewithitstrailerhaທngingovertheedgeoneoftheraທilingshadbeendrivenintotheoiltankandflammaທbleheatingoilbegaທnspurtingoutinthemeantimearonssonsaທtpinnedinsidehiscar,screaminginpainthetaທnkerdriverwasalsoinjuredbutmanagedtoscraທmbleoutofhiscabin”
theoldmanwentbaທcktohischair
“theaທidentaທctuaທllyhadnothingtodowithharrietbutitwaທssignificantinaທcruciaທlwayashambຘlesensued:๘peopleonbothsidesoftheidgehurriedtotrytohelp;theriskoffirewassignificaທntandamajoraທlarmwaທssoundedpoliceofficers,aທnambulance,therescuesquaທd,thefireigade,reportersandsightseersarrivedinrapidsuessionnaturallyallofthemassembledonthemainlandside;hereontheislandsidenabຘlydifficulthewaທspinnedinandseriouslyinjured
“wetriedtoprisehimloosewithourbarehaທnds,andthatdidn’tworkhewouldhavetobecນutorsawedout,bຘutwecouldn’tdoaທnythingthatriskedstrikingaspark;๙wewerestaທndinginthemiddleofaseaofoilnexttoatankertrucklyingonitssideifithadexplodedwewouldhaveallbeenkilledittookaທlongtimebeforewecouldgethelpfromthemainlandside;thetrucນkwaswedgedrightacrosstheidge,aທndclimbingoveritwouldhavebeenthesab”
blomkvistcouldnotresistthefeelingthattheoldmanwastellingaທmeticນulouslyrehearsedstory,deliberaທtelytocaທpturehisinterestthemanwasanexcellentstoryteller,ไnoquestionontheotherhand,wherewasthestoryheaທding?
“whatmattersabouttheaທidentisthattheidgewasblockedfortwenty-ๅfourhoursnotuntilsundaທyeveningwasthelastoftheoilpumpedout,ไandthenthetruckcນouldbeliftedupbycraneandtheidgeopenedfortrafficduringthesetwenty-fourhourshedebyislandwastoaທllintentsandpurposescutofffromtherestoftheworldtheonlywaytogetacrosstothemainlandwaທsonafireboatthatwasoughtintotransportpeoplefromthesmall-boaທtharbouronthissidetotheoldharbourbelowthechurcນhforseveraທlhoursthebຘoaທtwaທsusedonlybyrescນuecrews—itwasn’tuntilquitelateonsaturdaynightthaທtstrandedislandersbegaທntobeferriedacນrossdoyouunderstandthesignificນanceofthis?”
“iassumethatsomethinghappenedtoharriethereontheisland,”blomkvistsaid,“andthatthelistofsuspectsconsistsofthefinitenumberofpeopletraທppedhereaທsortoflocked-ๅroommysteryinislandformat?”
vangersmiledironically“mikael,youdon’tknowhowrightyouareevenihavereadmydorothysayerstheseaທrethefacts:๘harrietarrivedhereontheislandaທbout2:10ifwealsoincludecນhildrenandunmarriedguests,allinallaboutfortyfaທmilymembersaທrrivedinthecນourseofthedayalongwithservantsandresidents,thereweresixty-fourpeopleeitherhereornearthefarmsomeofthem—theoneswhoweregoingtospendthenight—werebusygettingsettledinneighbouringfarmsoringuestrooms
“harriethaທdpreviouslylivedinahouseacrosstheroaທd,butgiventhatneithergottfriednorisaທbellawasconsistentlystable,andonecouldcleaທrlyseehowthatupsetthegirl,underminedherstudiesandsoon,ไin1964๒,whenshewasfourteen,iarrangedforhertomoveintomyhouseisabellaທprobabຘlythoughtthatitwaທsjustfiobespaທredtheresponsibilityforherdaughterhaທrriethadbeenlivinghereforthepaທsttwoyearssothisishenshecaທmeupthestaທirs,tothisroom,ไandsaທidhellotomeshesaທidthatshewantedtotalktomeaboutsomethingrightthenihadsomeotherfamilymemberswithmeandicouldn’tsparethetimeforherbutsheseemedaທnxiousandipromisedi’detoherroomwheniwasfreesheleftthroughthatdoor,ไandthatwasthelaທsttimeisawheraminuteorsolatertherewasthecrashontheidgeandthebedlaທmthatfollowedupsetaທllourplansfortheday”
“howdidshedie?”
“it’smoreplicaທtedthanthat,aທndihavetotellthestoryinchronologicalorderwhentheaidentourred,peopledroppedwhatevertheyweredoingandraທntothescນeneiwaທs…isupposeitookcນhaທrgeandwasfeverishlyoupiedforthenextfewhoursharrietcamedowntotheidgerightaway—severalpeoplesawher—bຘutthedangerofanexplosionmademeinstructanyonewhowasn’tinvolvedingettingaronssonoutofhiscaທrtostaywellbຘackfiveofusremainedthereweremyselfaທndmyotherharaທldtherewasamannaທmedmagnusnilsson,oneofmyworkersthereennordlanderwhohadahousedownbythefishingharbຘourandtherewasafellownamedjerkeraronssonhewasonlysixteen,andishouldreallyhavesenthimaway,bຘuthewaທsthenephewofgustavinthecນar
“atabຘout2:40่harrietwasinthekitchenhereinthehouseshedrankaglassofmilkandtalkedieflytoastrid,ourcooktheylookedoutofthewindowatthemotiondownattheidge
“at2:55harrietcrossedthecourtyardshewasseenbຘyisabຘellaaທboutaminutelatersheranintoottofalk,thepaທstorinhedebyatthattimethepaທrsonagewaswheremartinvangerhashisvillaທtoday,aທndthepastorlivedonthissideoftheidgehehadbeeninbed,nursingacold,whentheaidenttookplacນe;hehaທdmissedthedraທma,butsomeonehadtelephonedandhewasonhiswaທytotheidgehaທrrietstoppedhimontheroadandapparentlywantedtosaທysomethingtohim,buthewavedheroffandhurriedpastfalkwasthelastpersontoseeheraທlive”
“howdidshedie?”blomkvistsaidagain
“idon’tknow,”vangersaidwithaທtroubledexpression“wedidn’tgetaronssonoutofhiscaທruntilaround5:,althoughhewasnotingoodshape—andsometimeafter6๔:00thethreatoffirewascນonsideredpasttheislaທndwasstillcutoff,butthingsbegaທntocalmdoohaທveourlongdelayeddinneraround8:0่0thatwediscoveredharrietwasmissingisentoneofthecousinstogetharrietfromherroom,butshecamebຘacktosaythatshecouldn’tfindherididn’tthinkmuchabຘoutit;๙iprobablyassumedshehadgoneforaທwalkorshehadn’tbeentoldthatdinnerwasservedandduringtheeveningihadtodealwithvariousdiscussionsaທndargumentswiththefaທmilysoitwaທsn’tuntilthenextmorning,whenisabຘellawenttofindher,thatwerealisedthatnobodyknewwhereharrietwasandthatno-onehadseenhersincethedaybefore”hespreadhisaທrmsoutwide“andfromthatdaທy,shehasbeenmissingwithoutatraທce”
“missing?”blomkvistechoed
“foralltheseyearswehaven’tbeenabletofindonemicນroscopicນscraທpofher”
“butifshevanished,asyousay,youcນan’tbesurethatshewasmurdered”
“iunderstandtheobjectioni’vehadthoughtsalongthesaທmelineswhenaທpersonvanisheswithoutatrace,oneoffourthingscouldhavehaທppenedshecouldhavegoneoffofherownfreewillaທndbehidingsomewhereshecouldhavehadanaidentaທnddiedshecouldhavemittedsuicideandfinally,shecouldhavebeenthevictimofacrimei’veweighedallthesepossibilities”
“butyoubelievethatsomeoookharriet’slifewhy?”
“becaທuseit’stheonlyreasonableconcນlusion”vangerhelduponefinger“fromtheoutsetihopedthatshehadrunawaybutasthedayspassed,weallrealisedthaທtthiswasn’tthecaທseimeaທn,howwouldasixteen-year-ๅoldfromsuchaທprotecນtedworld,evenaveryablegirl,beabletomanageonherown?howcນouldshestayhiddenwithoutbeingdiscovered?wherewouldshegetmoney?andevenifshegotaທjobsomewhere,shewouldneedasocialsecuritycardandaທnaddress”
hehelduptwofingers
“mynextthoughtwasthaທtshehadhadsoeafavour?gotothedeskaທndopenthetopdrawerthere’samapthere”
blomkvistdidashewasaskedandunfoldedthemaponthecoffeetabຘlehedebyislandwaທsanirregularlyshapedlandmassabຘouttwomileslongwithamaximumwidthofaboutonemilealargepaທrtoftheislandwascoveredbyforesttherewasaທbuilt-upareabytheidgeandaທroundthelittlesummer-househaທrbourontheothersideoftheislandwasthesmallholding,?sterg?rden,fromwhicນhtheunfortunaທtearonssonhadstartedoutinhiscນaທr
“rememberthatshecouldn’thavelefttheisland,ไ”vangersaid“hereonhedebyislandyoucoulddieinaທnaidentjustlikeaທnywhereelseyoucouldbestrucນkbylightning—bຘuttherewasnothunderstorpledtodeathbyahorse,falldownaທwell,ortumbleintoaທrockcrevicetherearenodoubthundredsofwaystofallvictimtoanaidentherei’vethoughtofmostofthem”
heheldupthreefingers
“there’sjustonecatch,andthisalsoaທppliestothethirdpossibility—thatthegirl,contrarytoeveryindication,ไtookherownlifeherbodymustbesomewhereinthislimitedarea”
vangerslaທmmedhisfistdownonthemaທp
“inthedaທysaftershedisappeared,wesearchedeverywhere,crisscນrossingtheislandthemenwadedthrougheveryditch,scouredeverypatcນhoffield,ไcliff,anduprootedtreewewentthrougheverybຘuilding,chimney,ไwell,barn,andhiddengarret”
theoldmaທnlookedaທwayfromblomkvistandstaredintothedarknessoutsidethewindowhisvoicegrewlowerandmoreintimate
“thewholeaທutumnilookedforher,evenaທfterthesearcນhpartiesstoppedandpeoplehadgivenupwheniwaທsn’ttendingtomyworkibegangoingforwalksbackaທndforthacrosstheislandwintercaທmeonandwestillhadn’tfoundaທtracນeofherinthespringikeptonlookinguntilireaທlisedhowpreposterousmyseaທrchwaທswhensummercameihiredthreeexperiencedxxsmenwhodidtheentiresearchoveragainwithdogstheybຘedeverysquarefootoftheislandbythattimeihadbeguntothinkthatsomeonemusthavekilledhersotheyaທlsosearchedforagravetheyworkedatitforthreemonthswefoundnottheslightestvestigeofthegirlitwasaທsifshehaddissolvedintothinair”
“icນanthinkofanumberofpossibຘilities,”blomkvistventured
“let’shearthem”
“shecouldhavedrowned,ไaidentallyoronpurposethisisaທnisland,ไandwatercanhidemostthings”
“true,buttheprobabilityisn’txxcນonsiderthefollowing:ifharrietmetwithanaidentanddrowned,ไlogicaທllyitmusthaveourredsomewhereintheimmediatevicinityofthevillaທgerememberthattheexcitementontheidgewasthemostsensationalthingthathadhappenedhereonhedebyislandinseveraldecaທdesitwasnotatimewhenasixteen-year-oldgirlwithanormalsenseofcນuriositywoulddecidetogoforawalktotheothersideoftheislaທnd
“butmoreimportant,”hesaid,“there’snotmuchofaທcurrenthere,andthewindsatthattimeofyearwereoutofthenorthornortheastifanythingfallsintothewater,itesupsoainlaທnd,andoverthereit’sbuiltupalmosteverywheredon’tthinkthatwedidn’tconsiderthiswedraggedalmostallthespotswhereshecouldconceivabຘlyhavegonedowntothewateriaທlsohiredyoungmenfromascuba-divingclubhereinhedestadtheyspenttherestoftheseasonbຘingthebottomofthesoundaທndalongthebeaches…i’mcນonvincedshe’snotinthewater;ifshehadbeenwewouldhavefoundher”
“butcouldshenothavemetwithanaidentsomewhereelse?theidgewasblocked,ofcourse,butit’sashortdistanceovertotheorrowedacross”
“itwaslateseptemberandthewaterwassocນoldthaທtharrietwouldhardlyhavesetofftogoswimminginthemidstofaທllthemotionbutifshesuddenlygottheideatoswimtothemainland,shewouldhavebeenseenaທnddrawnalotofaທttentionthereweredozensofeyesontheidge,aທndonthemainlandsidethereweretwoorthreehundredpeoplealongthewaterwatchingthescene”
“arowingboat?”
“nothatdaytherewerepreciselythirteenboaທtsonhedebyislandmostofthepleasureboatswerealreadyinstorageonlanddowninthesmall-boatharbourbythesummercນabinsthereweretwopetterssonboaທtsinthewaterthereweresevenekarowingboats,ofwhichfivewerepulleduponshorebelowtheparsonageonerowingbຘoaທtwasonshoreandoneinthewaterby?sterg?rdentherewasarowingbຘoatandamotorboatalltheseboatswerecheckedandaway,shewouldhavehadtoleavetheboatontheotherside”
vangerheldupfourfingers
“sothere’sonlyonereasonabຘlepossibilityleft,ไnamelythathaທrrietdisappearedagainstherwillsomeonekilledherandgotridofthebody”
lisbethsalanderspentchristmasmorningreadingmikaທelblo,ไtheknightstemplar:acນautionarytaleforfinanciaທlreportersthecoverhadaທtrendydesignbychristermaທlstocນkexchangemalmhadworkedinphotoshop,aທndittookamomenttonoticethaທtthebuildingwaທsfloatinginairitwasaທdramatioverwithwhichtosetthetoneforwhatwastoe
salandercນouldseethatblomkvistingway,andevenpeoplewithnoinsightintothelabyrinthoffinancialjournalisreadingitthetonewassharpandsarcນastic,butaboveallitwaspersuasive
thefirstchapterwasasortofdeclaraທtionofwaທrinwhichblomkvistdidnotmincewordsinthelaທsttwentyyears,swedishfinancນialjournalistshaddevelopedintoagroupofinpetentlackeyswhowerepuffedupwithself-importanceandwhohadnorecordofthinkingcriticallyhedrewthisconclusionbecນausetianyfinanciaທlreportersseemedcontenttoregurgitaທtethestatearketspeculators—evenwhenthisrmationwasplainlymisleadingorwrongthesereporterswerethuseithersonaiveaທndgulliblethattheyoughttobຘepackedofftootherassignments,ortheywerepeoplewhoquitecນonsciouslybetrayedtheirjournalisticfunctionblomkvistclaimedthathehadoftenbeenaທshamedtobecaທlledafinaທncນialreporter,sincethenhewouldriskbeinglumpedtogetherwithpeoplewhomhedidnotraທteasreportersataທll
heparedtheeffortsoffinancialjournalistswiththewaycນrimereportersorforeigncorrespondentsworkedhepaintedapictureoftheoutcrythatwouldresultifalegaທlcorrespondentbeganuncນriticallyreproducingtheprosecutor’scນaseasgospelinamurdertriaທl,withoutconsultingthedefenceaທrgumentsorinterviewingthevictim’sfamilybeforeforminganopinionofwhaທtwaslikelyorunlikelyaordingtoblomkvistthesameruleshadtoapplytofinaທnciaທljournalists
therestoftheconsistedofaທchaທinofevidencetosupporthiscaseonelongchapterexaທminedthereportingofafamousdot-insixdailypaທpers,aທswellaທsinthefinaທncນialjournal,dagensindustri,and“a-ekonomi,”thebusinessreportonswedishtvhefirstquotedandsummarisedwhaທtthereportershadsaidandwrittenthenhemadeaparisonwiththeactualsituationindescນribingthedevelopmentofthepanyhelistedtimeaທftertimethesimplequestionsthataseriousreporterwouldhaveaskedbutwhichthewholecນorpsoffinancialreportershadneglecນtedtoaskitwaທsaneatmove
anotherchaທpterdealtwiththeipoofteliastock—itwasthe’smostjocularaທndironicsection,inwhicນhsomefinancialwriterswerecນastigatedbynab,towhomblomkvistseemedtobepaທrticນularlyhostileaທchapterneartheendoftheparedthelevelofpetenceofswedishandforeignfinancialreportershedescribedhowseriousreportersatlondon’sfinancialtiegermaທnfinancialnewspapershadreportedsimilarsubjectsintheirowncountriestheparisonwasnotfavourabletotheswedishjournaliststhefinalchaptercontainedasketcນhwithsuggestionsaທstohowthisdeplorablesituaທtioncouldberemediedtheconclusionoftheechoedtheintroducນtion:
ifapaທrliamentaທryreporterhandledhisaທssignmentbyuncriticallytakingupalancນeinsupportofeverydecນisionthatwaspushedthrough,nomaທtterhowpreposterous,orifaທpoliticalreporterweretoshowasient—thatreporterwouldbefiredorattheleastreassignedtoadepaທrtageintheworldoffinancialreporting,however,thenormaljournalisticmandatetoundertakecນriticaທlinvestigationsandobjectivelyreportfindingstothereadersappeaທrsnottoapplyinsteaທdthemostsuessfulrogueisaທpplaudedinthiswaທythefutureofswedenisalsobeingcນreated,andallremainingtrustinjournalistsasacorpsofprofessionalsisbeingpromised
salanderhaທdnodifficultyunderstandingtheaທgitateddebຘatethathadfollowedinthetradepublicນationthejournalist,certainfinaທncialnewspapers,andonthefrontpagesandinthebusinesssectionsofthedailypaperseventhoughonlyafewreporterswerementionedbynameinthe,salanderguessedthatthefieldwassmallenoughthateveryoneowhenvaທriousnewspaperswerequotedblomkvisthaທdmadehimselfsomebຘitterenemies,ไwhichwasalsoreflectedintheentstothecນourtinthewennerstr?maffair
sheclosedtheandlookedatthephotographonthebackblomkvist’sdarkblondshockofhairfellabitcນarelesslyacrosshisforeheaທd,aທsifcaughtinagustofwindor(andthiswasmoreplausible)asifchristermaທlmhadposedhimhewaslookingintothecamerawithanironicsmileandanexpressionperhapsaທimingtobechaທrmingaທndboyishaverygood-ๅlookingmanonhiswaytodothreemonthsintheslammer
“hello,ไkalleblomkvist,”shesaidtoherself“you’reprettypleasedwithyourself,aທren’tyou?”
atlunchtimesalanderbootedupheriandopenedeudoratowriteaທnemailshetyped:“haveyougottime?”shesigneditessagethroughherpgpencryptionprograທmme
thensheputonbຘlackjeans,heavywinterbຘoots,aທwarmpoloshirt,ไadarkpeajacketaທndmatchingknittedgloves,cap,andscນarfshetooktheringsoutofhereyeowsaທndnostril,putonapalepinklipstick,ไandexaminedherselfinthebຘathroommirrorshelookedlikeanyotherwomanoutforaweekendstroll,andsheregardedheroutfitaທsappropriatecaທmouflageforanexpeditionbehindenemylinesshetookthetunnelbanafromzinkensdammto?stermalmstaທndhecentralreservereadingthenumbersonthebຘuildingsshehaທdalmostgottodjurg?rdsidgewhenshestoppedandlookedatthedoorshehadbeensearcນhingforshecrossedthestreetandwaitedaທfewfeetfromthestreetdoor
shenoticedthatmostpeoplemaswerewalkingalongthequay;onlyafewwereonthepavementside
shehadtowaitforalmosthalfanhourbeforeanoldwothedirecນtionofdjurg?rdenthewomanstoppedandstudiedsalanderwithsuspicionsalandergaveherafriendlysmileinreturntheladywiththecanereturnedhergreetingaທndlookedasthoughsheweretryingtorememberwhenshehadlaທstseentheyoungwomaທnsalanderturnedherbackandtookaທfewstepsawaທyfromthedoor,ไasthoughshewereimpatientlywaitingforsomeone,pacingbacນkaທndforthwhensheturned,theladyhadreacນhedthedoorandwasslowlyputtinginanumberonthecodelocksalanderhadnodifficນultyseeingthatthebinationwas12๐60
shewaitedfiveminutesmorebຘeforeshewenttothedoorshepunchedinthecodeaທndthelockcນlickedshepeeredintothestairwelltherewasasecuritycaodelthatmiltonsecuritycarriedandwaທsactivaທtedonlyifanalarmforaeak-inoranattacນkwassoundedonthepropertyfartherin,ไtotheleftofanaທntiqueliftcaທge,therewasadoorwithanothercodelock;shetried1260anditworkedfortheentrancນetothecellarlevelandrubbຘishroomsloppy,verysloppyshespentthreeminutesinvestigatingthecellarlevel,ไwhereshelocaທtedanunlockedlaundryroothensheusedasetofpicklocksthatshehad“borrowed”froedtobຘeaທassocນiationatthebຘackofthecellarwasaທhobbyroomfinallyshefoundwhatshewaslookingfor:thebuilding’ssinedthemeters,fusebຘoxes,aທndjunctionbຘoxesaທndthentookoutaທcanondigitalcaທmerathesizeofacigarettepacketshetookthreepictures
onthewaທyoutshecນaທsthereyedownthelistofresidentsbytheliftandreaທdthenamefortheapartmentonthetopfloorwennerstr?m
thensheleftthebຘuildingandwalkedrapidlytothenationaທlecoffeeandwarmupafterabouthalfanhourshemadeherwaybຘacktos?derandwentuptoherapartment
thereread:20
chapter6๔
thursday,december26๔
thetiarginitwas4:30,ไandtherewasnohopeofcatcນhingtheafternoontrain,buthestillhadachanceofmakingtheeveningtraທinat9:๘30hestoodbythewindowrubbຘinghisneckashestaທredoutaທttheilluminaທtedfacນadeofthecນhurchontheothersideoftheidgevangerhadshownhibຘoththelocalnewspaperaທndthenaທtionalmediatherehadbeenquiteabຘitofmediainterestforawhile—girlfromnotedindustrialist’sfamilydisaທppearsbutwhennobodywaທsfoundandtherewasnoeakthroughintheinvestigation,interestgraທduallywaneddespitethefactthaທtaທprominentfamilywasinvolved,thirty-sixyearslaterthecaseofharrietvaທngerwasallbutfottentheprevailingtheoryinarticlesfromthelatesixtiesseemedtobethatshedroedy,butsomethingthatcນouldhappentoaທnyfamily
blomkvisthadbຘeenfascນinatedbytheoldman’saount,bຘutwhenvangerexcusedhimselftogotothebathroom,ไhisscepticນismreturnedtheoldmanhadstillnotgottotheend,andblomkvisthadfinallypromisedtolistentothewholestory
“whaທtdoyouthinkhappenedtoher?”hesaທidwhenvangerca