aranskyaeptedherasshewas,butshewasnotallowedtoeettheclients.today’sassignentwasanexception.

  salanderwasdressedforthedayinablackt-shirtwithapictureonitofe.t.withfangs,andthewordsiamalsoanalien.shehadonablackskirtthatwasfrayedatthehe,aworn-outblack,id-lengthleatherjacket,rivetbelt,heavydocmartenboots,andhorizontallystriped,green-and-redkneesocks.shehadputonake-upinacolourscheethatindicatedsheightbecolourblind.inotherwords,shewasexceptionallydeckedout.

  aranskysighedandshiftedhisgazetotheconservativelydressedguestwiththethickglasses.dirchfrode,alawyer,hadinsistedoneetingandbeingabletoaskquestionsoftheeployeewhopreparedthereport.aranskyhaddoneallhecivillycoul. comreventtheeetingtakingplace,sayingthatsalanderhadacold,wasaway,orwasswapedwithotherwork.thelawyerrepliedcallythatitadenodifference—theatterwasnoturgentandhecouldeasilywaitacoupleofdays.atlasttherewasnowaytoavoidbringingthetogether.nowfrode,whoseeedtobeinhislatesixties,waslookingatlisbethsalanderwithevidentfascination.salandergloweredbackwithanexpressionthatdidnotindicateanywarfeelings.

  aranskysighedandlookedonceoreatthefoldershehadplacedonhisdesklabelledcarlmikaelblomkvist.thenaewasfollowedbyasocialsecuritynuber,neatlyprintedonthecover.hesaidthenaeoutloud.herrfrodesnappedoutofhisbewitchedstateandturnedtoaransky.

  “sowhatcanyoutelleaboutmikaelblokvist？”hesaid.

  “thisisms.salander,whopreparedthereport.”aranskyhesitatedasecondandthenwentonwithasilethatwasintendedtoengenderconfidence,butwhichseeedhelplesslyapologetic.“don’tbefooledbyheryouth.sheisourabsolutebestresearcher.”

  “i’persuadedofthat,”frodesaidinadrytohathintedattheopposite.“tellewhatshefoundout.”

  itwasclearthatfrodehadnoideahowtoacttowardssalander.heresortedtodirectingthequestiontoaransky,asifshehadnotbeenintheroo.salanderblewabigbubblewithhergu.beforearanskycouldanswer,shesaid,“couldyouasktheclientwhetherhewouldpreferthelongortheshortversion？”

  therewasabrief,ebarrassedsilencebeforefrodefinallyturnedtosalanderandtriedtorepairthedaagebyassuingafriendly,avunculartone.

  “iwouldbegratefuliftheyoungladywouldgiveeaverbalsuaryoftheresults.”

  foraoentherexpressionwassosurprisinglyhostilethatitsentacoldshiverdownfrode’sspine.thenjustasquicklyherexpressionsoftenedandfrodewonderedwhetherhehadiaginedthatlook.whenshebegantospeakshesoundedlikeacivilservant.

  “allowetosayfirstthatthiswasnotaveryplicatedassignent,apartfrothefactthatthedescriptionofthetaskitselfwassoewhatvague.youwantedtoknow‘everythingthatcouldbedugup’abouthi,butgavenoindicationofwhethertherewereanythinginparticularyouwerelookingfor.forthisreasonit’ssoethingofapotpourriofhislife.thereportis193pageslong,but120pagesarecopiesofarticleshewroteorpressclippings.blokvistisapublicpersonwithfewsecretsandnotveryuchtohide.”

  “buthedoeshavesoesecrets？”frodesaid.

  “everyonehassecrets,”sherepliedneutrally.“it’sjustaatteroffindingoutwhattheyare.”

  “let’shear.”

  “mikaelblokvistwasbornonjanuary18,1960,whichakeshiforty-twoyearsold.hewasborninborl？ngebuthasneverlivedthere.hisparents,kurtandanitablokvist,werearoundthirty-fivewhenthechildwasborn.bothhavesincedied.hisfatherwasaachineryinstallerandovedaroundagooddeal.hisother,asfarasicouldsee,wasneveranythingbutahousewife.thefailyovedhousetostockholwhenmikaelstartedschool.hehasasisterthreeyearsyoungernaedannikawhoisalawyer.healsohassoecousins,bothaleandfeale.wereyouplanningtoservecoffee？”

  thislastwasdirectedataransky,whohastilypupedthreecupsofcoffeefrothetheroshehadorderedfortheeeting.heotionedforsalandertogoon.

  “soin1966thefailylivedinlillaessingen.blokvistwenttoschoolfirstinbloaandthe. comrepschoolonkungsholen.hehaddecentgraduatingarks—therearecopiesinthefolder.duringhisprepschooldayshestudiedusicandplayedbassinarockbandnaedbootstrap,whichactuallyputoutasinglethatwasplayedontheradiointhesuerof1979.afterprepschoolheworkedasaticketcollectorinthetunnelbana,savedsoeoney,andtravelledabroad.hewasawayforayear,ostlybuingaroundasia—india,thailand—andaswingdowntoaustralia.hebeganstudyingtobeajournalistinstockholwhenhewastwenty-one,butinterruptedhisstudiesafterthefirstyeartodohisilitaryserviceasarifleaninkirunainlapland.itwassoesortofachounit,andheleftwithgoodarks.afterilitaryservicehepletedhisjournalisdegreeandhasworkedinthefieldeversince.howdetaileddoyouwantetobe？”

  “justtellwhatyouthinkisiportant.”

  “heesoffalittlelikepracticalpiginthethreelittlepigs.sofarhehasbeenanexcellentjournalist.intheeightieshehadalotofteporaryjobs,firstintheprovincialpressandtheninstockhol.there’salist.hisbreakthroughcaewiththestoryaboutthebeargang—thebankrobbersheidentified.”

  “kalleblokvist.”

  “hehatesthenicknae,whichisunderstandable.soebody’dgetafatlipiftheyevercalledepippilongstockingonanewspaperplacard.”

  shecastadarklookataransky,whoswallowedhard.onorethanoneoasionhehadthoughtofsalanderaspreciselypippilongstocking.hewavedforhertogetonwithit.

  “onesourcedeclaresthatuptothenhewantedtobeacriereporter—andheinternedasoneataneveningpaper.buthehasbeeknownforhisworkasapoliticalandfinancialreporter.hehaspriarilybeenafreelancer,withonefull-tiepositionataneveningpaperinthelateeighties.heleftin1990whenhehelpedstarttheonthlyagazinemillenniu.theagazinebeganasarealoutsider,withoutanybigpublishingpanytoholditshand.itscirculationhasgrownandtodayis21,000copiesonthly.theeditorialofficeisong？tgatanonlyafewblocksfrohere.”

  “aleft-wingagazine.”

  “thatdependsonhowyoudefiheconcept‘left-wing.’millenniuisgenerallyviewedascriticalofsociety,buti’guessingtheanarchiststhinkit’sawipybourgeoiscrapagazinealongthelinesofarenaorordfront,whilethemoderatestudentsassociationprobablythinksthattheeditorsareallbolsheviks.thereisnothingtoindicatethatblokvisthaseverbeenactivepolitically,evenduringtheleft-wingwavewhenhewasgoin. comrepschool.whilehewaspluggingawayattheschoolofjournalishewaslivingwithagirlwhoatthetiewasactiveinthesyndicalistsandtodaysitsinparliaentasarepresentativeoftheleftparty.heseestohavebeengiventheleft-wingstappriarilybecauseasafinancialjournalisthespecialisesininvestigativereportingaboutcorruptionandshadytransactionsinthecorporateworld.hehasdonesoedevastatingindividualportraitsofcaptainsofindustryandpoliticians—whichwereostlikelywelldeserved—andcausedanuberofresignationsandlegalrepercussions.theostwell-knownwasthearbogaaffair,whichresultedintheforcedresignationofaconservativepoliticianandthesentencingofaforercouncillortoayearinprisonforebezzleent.callingattentiontocriescanhardlybeconsideredanindicationthatsoeoneisleft-wing.”

  “iunderstandwhatyouean.whatelse？”

  “hehaswrittentwos.oneaboutthearbogaaffairandoneaboutfinancialjournalisentitledtheknightsteplar,whichcaeoutthreeyearsago.ihaven’treadthe,butjudgingfrothereviewsitseestohavebeencontroversial.itproptedagooddealofdebateintheedia.”

  “money？”frodesaid.

  “he’snotrich,buthe’snotstarving.iaxreturnsareattachedtothereport.hehasabout250,000sekinthebank,inbotharetireentfundandasavingsaount.hehasanaountofaround100,000kronorthatheusesascashforworkingexpenses,travelandsuch.heownsaco-opapartentthat’spaidoff—700squarefeetonbellansgatan—andhehasnoloansordebts.hehasoneotherasset—soepropertyinsandhanoutinthearchipelago.it’sacottageof270squarefeet,furnishedasasuercabinandbythewater,rightintheostattractivepartofthevillage.apparentlyanuncleofhisboughtitintheforties,whensuchthingswerestillpossiblefornoralortals,andthecabinendedupinblokvist’shands.theydividedthingsupsothathissistergottheparents’apartentinlillaessingenandblokvistgotthecabin.ihavenoideawhatitightbeworthtoday—certainlyafewillion—butontheotherhandhedoesn’tseetowanttosell,andhegoesouttosandhanfairlyoften.”

  “ine？”

  “he’spartownerofmillenniu,butheonlytakesoutabout12,000insalaryeachonth.therestheearnsfrohisfreelancejobs—thetotalvaries.hehadabigyearthreeyearsagowhenhetookinaround450,000.lastyearheonlyade120,000frofreelancejobs.”

  “heha. comay150,000intaxesinadditiontolawyer’sfees,etcetera,”frodesaid.“let’sassuethatthetotalisratherhigh.he’llalsobelosingoneywhileservinghisgaolter.”

  “whicheansthathe’sgoingtobecleanedout,”salandersaid.

  “ishehonest？”

  “that’shistrustcapital,sotospeak.hisiageistoappearastheguardianofrobustoralityasopposedtothebusinessworld,andheisinvitedprettyregularl. comontificateontelevision.”

  “thereprobablyisn’tuchleftofthatcapitalafterhisconvictiontoday,”frodesaid.

  “idon’twanttoclaithatiknowexactlywhatdeandsareadeonajournalist,butafterthissetbackitwillprobablybealongtiebeforemasterdetectiveblokvistwinsthegrandprizeforjournalis.he’sreallyadeafoolofhiselfthistie,”salandersaid.“ifiayakeapersonalent…”

  aranskyopenedhiseyeswide.intheyearssalanderhadworkedforhi,shehadneveradeasinglepersonalentinaninvestigationofanindividual.bone-dryfactswereallthatatteredtoher.

  “itwasn’tpartofyassignenttolookatthequestionoffactinthewennerstr？affair,butididfollowthetrialandhavetoaditthatiwasactuallyflabbergasted.thethingfeltwrong,andit’stotally…outofcharacterformikaelblokvis. comublishsoethingthatseestobesooffthewall.”

  salanderscratchedherneck.frodelookedpatient.aranskywonderedwhetherheightbeistakenorwhethersalanderreallywasunsurehowtocontinue.thesalanderhekneasneverunsureorhesitant.finallysheseeedtoakeupherind.

  “quiteofftherecord,sotospeak…ihaven’tstudiedthewennerstr？affairproperly,butireallythinkthatmikaelblokvistwassetup.ithinkthere’ssoethingtotallydifferentinthisstorythanwhatthecourt’sverdictisindicating.”

  thelawyerscrutinisedsalanderwithsearchingeyes,andaranskynoticedthatforthefirsttiesinceshebeganherreport,theclientwasshowingorethanapoliteinterest.headeaentalnotethatthewennerstr？affairheldacertaininterestforfrode.correction,aranskythoughtatonce,frodewasnotinterestedinthewennerstr？affair—itwaswhensalanderhintedthatblokvistwassetupthatfrodereacted.

  “howdoyouean,exactly？”frodesaid.

  “it’sspeculationonypart,buti’convincedthatsoeorickedhi.”

  “andwhatakesyouthinkso？”

  “everythinginblokvist’sbackgroundshowsthathe’saverycarefulreporter.everycontroversialrevelationhepublishedbeforewasalwayswelldocuented.iwenttocourtonedayandlistened.heseeedtohavegivenupwithoutafight.thatdoesn’taordwithhischaracteratall.ifwearetobelievethecourt,headeupastoryaboutwennerstr？withoutashredofevidenceandpublisheditlikesoesortofjournalisticsuicidebober.that’ssiplynotblokvist’sstyle.”

  “sowhatdoyouthinkhappened？”

  “icanonlyguess.blokvistbelievedinhisstory,butsoethinghappenedalongthewayandtherationturnedouttobefalse.thisinturneansthatthesourcewassoeonehetrustedorthatsoeonedeliberatelyfedhifalseration—whichsoundsiprobablyplicated.thealternativeisthathewassubjectedtosuchaseriousthreatthathethrewinthetowelandwouldratherbeseenasaninpetentidiotthanfightback.buti’justspeculating,asisaid.”

  whensalanderadeanattepttocontinueheraount,frodehelduphishand.hesatforaoent,druinghisfingersonthearrestofhischairbeforehehesitantlyturnedtoheragain.

  “ifweshoulddecidetoengageyoutounravelthetruthinthewennerstr？affair…howuchchanceistherethatyou’dfindoutanything？”

  “ican’tanswerthat.thereaynotbeanythingtofind.”

  “butwouldyoubewillingtoakeanattept？”

  sheshrugged.“it’snotyplacetodecide.iworkforherraransky,andhedecideswhatjobshewantstoassigntoe.andthenitdependswhatsortofrationyou’relookingfor.”

  “leteputitthisway…anditakeitthatwe’respeakinginconfidence？”aranskynodded.“idon’tknowanythingaboutthisparticularatter,butidoknowbeyondanydoubtthatinothersituationswennerstr？hasacteddishonestly.thewennerstr？casehasseriouslyaffectedmikaelblokvist’slife,andihaveaninterestindiscerningwhetherthere’sanythinginyourspeculations.”

  theconversationhadtakenanunexpectedturn,andaranskywasinstantlyonthealert.whatfrodewasaskingwasformiltonsecurit. comokearoundinacasethathadalreadybeenconcluded.acaseinwhichthereayhavebeensoesortofthreattotheanblokvist,andiftheytookthison,miltonwouldriskcollidingwithwennerstr？’sregientoflawyers.aranskywasnotintheleastfortedbythethoughtofturningsalanderlooseinsuchasituation,likeacruiseissileoutofcontrol.

  itwasnoterelyaatterofconcernforthepany.salanderhadadeplainthatshedidnotwantaranskytoactassoesortofworriedstepfather,andsincetheiragreeenthehadbeencarefulnevertobehavelikeone,butinrealityhewouldnever. comworryingabouther.hesoetiescaughthiselfparingsalandertohisdaughters.heconsideredhiselfagoodfatherwhodidnotinterfereunnecessarilyintheirlives.butheknewthathewouldnottolerateitifhisdaughtersbehavedlikesalanderorlivedthelifesheled.

  inthedepthsofhiscroatian—orpossiblybosnianorarenian—hearthehadneverbeenabletoshedtheconvictionthatsalander’slifewasheadingfordisaster.sheseeedtheperfectvictiforanyonewhowishedherill,andhedreadedtheorninghewouldbeawakenedbythenewsthatsoeonehaddoneherhar.

  “aninvestigationofthiskindcouldgetexpensive,”aranskysaid,issuingawarningsoastogaugetheseriousnessoffrode’sinquiry.

  “thenwe’llsetaceiling,”frodesaid.“idon’tdeandtheipossible,butit’sobviousthatyourcolleague,justasyouassurede,isexceedinglypetent.”

  “salander？”aranskysaid,turningtoherwitharaisedeyebrow.

  “i’notworkingonanythingelserightnow.”

  “ok.butiwantustobeinagreeentabouttheconstraintsofthejob.let’sheartherestofyourreport.”

  “thereisn’tuchoreapartfrohisprivatelife.in1986hearriedmonicaabrahassonandthesaeyeartheyhadadaughter,pernilla.thearriagedidn’tlast；theyweredivorcedin1991.abrahassonhasrearried,buttheyseetobefriendsstill.thedaughterliveswithherotheranddoesn’tseeblokvistoften.”

  frodeaskedfororecoffeeandthenturnedtosalander.

  “yousaidthateveryonehassecrets.didyoufindany？”

  “ieantthatallpeoplehavethingstheyconsidertobeprivateandthattheydon’tgoaroundairinginpublic.blokvistisobviouslyabighitwithwoen.he’shadseveralloveaffairsandagreatanycasualflings.butonepersonhaskeptturningupinhislifeovertheyears,andit’sanunusualrelationship.”

  “inwhatway？”

  “erikaberger,editorinchiefofmillenniu:upper-classgirl,swedishother,belgianfatherresidentinsweden.bergerandblokvistetinjournalisschoolandhavehadanon-and-offrelationshipeversince.”

  “thataynotbesounusual,”frodesaid.

  “no,possiblynot.butbergerhappenstobearriedtotheartistgregerbeckan,ainorcelebritywhohasdonealotofterriblethingsinpublicvenues.”

  “soshe’sunfaithful.”

  “beckanknowsabouttheirrelationship.it’sasituationapparentlyaeptedbyallpartiesconcerned.soetiesshesleepsatblokvist’sandsoetiesathoe.idon’tknowexactlyhowitworks,butitwasprobablyacontributingfactortothebreakupofblokvist’sarriagetoabrahasson.”

  chapter3

  friday,deceber20–saturday,deceber21

  erikabergerlookedupquizzicallywhenanapparentlyfreezingblokvistcaeintotheeditorialoffice.millenniu’sofficeswereinthecentreofthetrendysectionofg？tgatan,abovetheofficesofgreenpeace.therentwasactuallyabittoosteepfortheagazine,buttheyhadallagreedtokeepthespace.

  sheglancedattheclock.itwas5:10,anddarknesshadfallenoverst