“itwasahorrificevent.”

  “morethanthat.itruinedylife.that’ssoethingi’vebeeoreawareofastiehaspassed.doyouhaveagoodsenseofyourself？”

  “ithinkso,yes.”

  “idotoo.ican’tfetwhathappened.butyotiveshavechangedovertheyears.atfirstitwasprobablygrief.iwantedtofindherandatleasthaveachancetoburyher.itwasaboutgettingjusticeforharriet.”

  “inwhatwayhasthatchanged？”

  “nowit’soreaboutfindingthebastardwhodidit.butthefunnythingis,theolderiget,theoreofanall-absorbinghobbyithasbee.”

  “hobby？”

  “yes,iwouldusethatword.whenthepoliceinvestigationpeteredoutikeptgoing.i’vetrie. comroceedsysteaticallyandscientifically.i’vegatheredalltherationthatcouldpossiblybefound—thephotographs,thepolicereport,i’vewrittendowneverythingpeopletoldeaboutwhattheyweredoingthatday.soineffecti’vespentalosthalfylifecollectingrationaboutasingleday.”

  “yourealise,isuppose,thatafterthirty-sixyearsthekillerhiselfightbedeadandburied？”

  “idon’tbelievethat.”

  blokvistraisedhiseyebrowsattheconvictioninhisvoice.

  “let’sfinishdinnerandgobackupstairs.there’soneoredetailbeforeystoryisdone.andit’stheostperplexingofall.”

  salanderparkedthecorollawiththeautoatictransissionbytheuterrailwaystationinsundbyberg.shehadborrowedthetoyotafromiltonsecurity’sotorpool.shehadnotexactlyaskedperission,butaranskyhadneverexpresslyforbiddenherfrousingmilton’scars.soonerorlater,shethought,ihavetogetavehicleofyown.shedidownasecond-handkawasaki125,whichsheusedinthesuertie.duringthewinterthebikewaslockedinhercellar.

  shewalkedtoh？gklintav？genandrangthebellat6:00onthedot.secondslaterthelockonthestreetdoorclickedandshewentuptwoflightsandrangthedoorbellnexttothenaeofsvensson.shehadnoideawhosvenssonightbeorifanysuchpersonevenlivedinthatapartent.

  “hi,plague,”shesaid.

  “wasp.youonlypopinwhenyouneedsoething.”

  asusual,itwasdarkintheapartent；thelightfroasinglelapseepedoutintothehallfrothebedrooheusedasanoffice.thean,whowasthreeyearsolderthansalander,wassixfoottwoandweighed330pounds.sheherselfwasfourfeetelevenandweighed90poundsandhadalwaysfeltlikeaidgetnexttoplague.theplaceselledstuffyandstale.

  “it’sbecauseyounevertakeabath,plague.itsellslikeaonkeyhouseinhere.ifyoueverwentouticouldgiveyousoetipsonsoap.theyhaveitatthekonsu.”

  hegaveherawansile,butsaidnothing.heotionedhertofollowhiintothekitchen.heploppeddownonachairbythekitchentablewithoutturningonalight.theonlyilluinationcaefrothestreetlightbeyondthewindow.

  “iean,iaynotholdtherecordincleaninghouseeither,butifi’vegotoldilkcartonsthatselllikeaggotsibundletheupandputtheout.”

  “i’onadisabilitypension,”hesaid.“i’sociallyinpetent.”

  “sothat’swhythegovernentgaveyouaplacetoliveandfotaboutyou.aren’tyoueverafraidthatyourneighboursaregoin. comlaintotheinspectors？thenyouightfetchupinthefunnyfar.”

  “haveyousoethingfore？”

  salanderunzippedherjacketpocketandhandedhifivethousandkronor.

  “it’sallicanspare.it’syownoney,andican’treallydeductyouasadependant.”

  “whatdoyouwant？”

  “theelectroniuffyoutalkedabouttwoonthsago.didyougetit？”

  hesiledandlaidaboxonthetable.

  “showehowitworks.”

  forthenextfewinutesshelistenedintently.thenshetestedthecuff.plagueightbeasocialinpetent,buthewasunquestionablyagenius.

  vangerwaiteduntilheonceorehadblokvist’sattention.blokvistlookedathiswatchandsaid,“oneperplexingdetail.”

  vangersaid:“iwasbornonnoveber1.whenharrietwaseightshegaveeabirthdaypresent,apressedflower,fraed.”

  vangerwalkedaroundthedeskandpointedtothefirstflower.bluebell.ithadanaateurishounting.

  “thatwasthefirst.igotitin1958.”hepointedtothenextone.“1959.”buttercup.“1960.”daisy.“itbecaeatradition.shewouldakethefraesoetieduringthesuerandsaveituntilybirthday.ialwayshungtheonthewallinthisroo.in1966shedisappearedandthetraditionwasbroken.”

  vangerpointedtoagapintherowoffraes.blokvistfeltthehairsriseonthebackofhisneck.thewallwasfilledwithpressedflowers.

  “1967,ayearaftershedisappeared,ireceivedthisfloweronybirthday.it’saviolet.”

  “howdidthefloweretoyou？”

  “wrappedinwhattheycallgiftpaperandpostedinapaddedenvelopefrostockhol.noreturnaddress.noessage.”

  “youeanthat…”blokvistadeasweepinggesture.

  “precisely.onybirthdayeverydanyear.doyouknowhowthatfeels？it’sdirectedate,preciselyasiftheurdererwantstotorturee.i’veworriedyselfsickoverwhetherharrietighthavebeentakenawaybecausesoeonewantedtogetate.itwasnosecretthatsheandihadaspecialrelationshipandthatithoughtofherasyowndaughter.”

  “sowhatisityouwantetodo？”blokvistsaid.

  whensalanderreturnedthecorollatothegarageundermiltonsecurity,sheadesuretogotothetoiletupstairsintheoffice.sheusedhercardkeyinthedoorandtooktheliftstraightuptothethirdfloortoavoidgoinginthroughtheainentranceonthesecondfloor,wherethedutyofficerworked.sheusedthetoiletandgotacupofcoffeefrotheespressoachihataranskyhadboughtwhenatlonglastherecognisedthatsalanderwouldneverakecoffeejustbecauseitwasexpectedofher.thenshewenttoherofficeandhungherleatherjacketoverthebackofherchair.

  theofficewasa61/2-by-10-footglasscubicle.therewasadeskwithanoldodeldelldes. compc,atelephone,oneofficechair,aetalwastepaperbasket,andashelf.theshelfcontainedanassortentofdirectoriesandthreeblanknotes.thetwodeskdrawershousedsoeballpoints,paperclips,andanote.onthewindowsillstoodapottedplantwithbrown,witheredleaves.salanderlookedthoughtfullyattheplant,asifitwerethefirsttieshehadseenit,thenshedepositeditfirlyinthewastepaperbasket.

  sheseldohadanythingtodoinherofficeandvisiteditnoorethanhalfadozentiesayear,ainlywhensheneededtositbyherselfandprepareareportjustbeforehandingitin.aranskyhadinsistedthatshehaveherownspace.hisreasoningwasthatshewouldthenfeellikepartofthepanyalthoughsheworkedasafreelancer.shesuspectedthataranskyhopedthatthiswayhewouldhaveachancetokeepaneyeonherandeddleinheraffairs.atfirstshehadbeengivenspacefartherdownthecorridor,inalargerroothatshewasexpectedtosharewithacolleague.butsinceshewasnevertherearanskyfinallyovedherintothecubbyholeattheendofthecorridor.

  salandertookoutthecuff.shelookedatit,editativelybitingherlowerlip.

  itwaspast11:00andshewasaloneonthefloor.shesuddenlyfeltexcruciatinglybored.

  afterawhileshegotupandwalkedtotheendofthehallandtriedthedoortoaransky’soffice.locked.shelookedaround.thechancesofanyourningupinthecorridoraroundidnightondeceber26werealostnonexistent.sheopenedthedoorwithapiratecopyofthepany’scardkey,whichshehadtakenthetroubletoakeseveralyearsbefore.

  aransky’sofficewasspacious:infrontofhisdeskwereguestchairs,andaconferencetablewithrooforeightpeoplewasinthecorner.itwasipeablyneat.shehadnotsnoopedinhisofficeforquitesoetie,butnowthatshewashere…shespentawhileathisdesktobringherselfuptodateregardingthesearchforasuspectedoleinthepany,whichofhercolleagueshadbeenplantedundercoverinafirwhereatheftringwasoperating,andwhateasureshadbeentakeninallsecrec. comrotectaclientwhowasafraidherchildwasindangerofbeingkidnappedbythefather.

  atlastsheputthepapersbackpreciselythewaytheywere,lockedaransky’sdoor,andwalkedhoe.shefeltsatisfiedwithherday.

  “idon’tknohetherwe’llfindoutthetruth,butirefusetogotoygravewithoutgivingitonelasttry,”theoldansaid.“isiplywanttoissionyoutogothroughalltheevidenceonelasttie.”

  “thisiscrazy,”blokvistsaid.

  “whyisitcrazy？”

  “i’veheardenough.henrik,iunderstandyourgrief,butihavetobehonestwithyou.whatyou’reaskingetodoisawasteofytieandyouroney.youareaskingetoconjureupasolutiontoaysterythatthepoliceandexperiencedinvestigatorswithconsiderablygreaterresourceshavefailedtosolvealltheseyears.you’reaskingetosolveacriegettingonforfortyyearsafteritwasitted.howcouldipossiblydothat？”

  “wehaven’tdiscussedyourfee,”vangersaid.

  “thatwon’tbenecessary.”

  “ican’tforceyou,butlistentowhati’offering.frodehasalreadydrawnupacontract.wecannegotiatethedetails,butthecontractissiple,andallitneedsisyoursignature.”

  “henrik,thisisabsurd.ireallydon’tbelieveicansolvetheysteryofharriet’sdisappearance.”

  “aordingtothecontract,youdon’thaveto.allitasksisthatyoudoyourbest.ifyoufail,thenit’sgod’swill,or—ifyoudon’tbelieveinhi—it’sfate.”

  blokvistsighed.hewasfeelingoreandoreunfortableandwantedtoendthisvisittohedeby,butherelented.

  “allright,let’shearit.”

  “iwantyoutoliveandworkhereinhedebyforayear.iwantyoutogothroughtheinvestigativereportonharriet’sdisappearanceonepageatatie.iwantyoutoexaineeverythingwithneweyes.iwantyoutoquestionalltheoldconclusionsexactlythewayaninvestigativereporterwould.iwantyoutolookforsoethingthatiandthepoliceandotherinvestigatorsayhaveissed.”

  “you’reaskingetosetasideylifeandcareertodevoteyselfforawholeyeartosoethingthat’sapletewasteoftie.”

  vangersiled.“astoyourcareer,weightagreethatfortheoentit’ssoewhatonhold.”

  blokvisthadnoanswertothat.

  “iwanttobuyayearofyourlife.giveyouajob.thesalaryisbetterthananyofferyou’llevergetinyourlife.iwillpayyou200,000kronoraonth—that’s2.4illionkronorifyouaeptandstaythewholeyear.”

  blokvistwasastonished.

  “ihavenoillusions.thepossibilityyouwillsueedisinial,butifagainstalloddsyoushouldcracktheysterytheni’offeringabonusofdoublepayent,or4.8illionkronor.let’sbegenerousandrounditofftofiveillion.”

  vangerleanedbackandcockedhishead.

  “icanpaytheoneyintoanybankaountyouwish,anywhereintheworld.youcanalsotaketheoneyincashinasuitcase,soit’suptoyouwhetheryouwanttoreporttheiothetaxauthorities.”

  “thisis…nothealthy,”blokviststaered.

  “whyso？”vangersaidcally.“i’eighty-twoandstillinfullpossessionofyfaculties.ihavealargepersonalfortune；icanspenditanywayiwant.ihavenochildrenandabsolutelynodesiretoleaveanyoneytorelativesidespise.i’veadeylastwillandtestaent；i’llbegivingthebulkofyfortuotheworldwildlifefund.afewpeoplewhoareclosetoewillreceivesignificantaounts—includinganna.”

  blokvistshookhishead.

  “trytounderstande,”vangersaid.“i’aanwho’sgoingtodiesoon.there’sohingintheworldiwanttohave—andthat’sananswertothisquestionthathasplaguedeforhalfylife.idon’texpecttofindtheanswer,butidohaveresourcestoakeonelastattept.isthatunreasonable？ioweittoharriet.andioweittoyself.”

  “you’llbepayingeseveralillionkronorfornothing.allineedtodoissignthecontractandthentwiddleythubsforayear.”

  “youwouldn’tdothat.onthecontrary—you’llworkharderthanyou’veeverworkedinyourlife.”

  “howcanyoubesosure？”

  “becauseicanofferyousoethingthatyoucan’tbuyforanyprice,butwhichyouwantorethananythingintheworld.”

  “andwhatwouldthatbe？”

  vanger’seyesnarrowed.

  “icangiveyouhans-erikwennerstr？.icanprovethathe’saswindler.hehappened,thirty-fiveyearsago,tobeginhiscareerwithe,andicangiveyouhisheadonaplatter.solvetheysteryandyoucanturnyourdefeatincourtintothestoryoftheyear.”

  chapter7

  friday,january3

  erikasethercoffeecuponthetableandstoodbythewindowlookingoutattheviewofgalastan.itwas9:00intheorning.allthesnowhadbeenwashedawaybytherainovernewyear’s.

  “i’vealwayslovedthisview,”shesaid.“anapartentlikethiswouldakeegiveuplivinginsaltsj？baden.”

  “you’vegotthekeys.youcanoveoverfroyourupper-classreserveanytieyouwant,”blokvistsaid.heclosedthesuitcaseandputitbythefrontdoor.

  bergerturnedandgavehiadisbelievinglook.“youcan’tbeserious,mikael,”shesaid.“we’reinourworstcrisisandyou’repackingtogoandliveintjottahejti.”

  “hedestad.acoupleofhoursbytrain.andit’snotforever.”

  “itightaswellbeulanbator.don’tyouseethatitwilllookasifyou’reslinkingoffwithyourtailbetweenyourlegs？”

  “that’spreciselywhatiadoing.besides,ihavetodosoegaoltietoo.”

  christermalwassittingonthesofa.hewasunfortable.itwasthefirsttiesincetheyfoundedmillenniuthathehadseenbergerandblokvistinsuchdisagreeent.overalltheyearstheyhadbeeninseparable.soetiestheyhadfuriousclashes,buttheirarguentswerealwaysaboutbusinessatters,andtheywouldinvariablyresolveallthoseissuesbeforethey

  5

  huggedeachotherandwentbacktotheircorners.ortobed.lastautunhadnotbeenfun,andnowitwasasifagreatgulfhadopenedupbetweenthe.malwonderedifhewaswatchingthebeginningoftheendofmillenniu.

  “idon’thaveachoice,”blokvistsaid.“wedon’thaveachoice.”

  hepouredhiselfacoffeeandsatatthekitchentable.bergershookherheadandsatdownfacinghi.

  “whatdoyouthink,christer？”shesaid.

  hehadbeenexpectingthequestionanddreadingtheoentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastand.hewasthethirdpartner,buttheyallknewthatitwasblokvistandbergerwhoweremillenniu.theonlytietheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.

  “honestly,”malsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tatterwhatithink.”

  heshutup.helovedakingpictures.helovedworkingwithgraphics.hehadneverconsideredhiselfanartist,butheknewhewasadanedgooddesigner.ontheotherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.

  bergerandblokvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.shewascoolandfurious.hewasthinkinghard.

  thisisn’tanarguent,malthought.it’sadivorce.

  “ok,letepresentycaseonelasttie,”blokvistsaid.“thisdoesnoteani’vegivenuponmillenniu.we’vespenttoouchtieworkingourheartsoutforthat.”

  “butnowyouwon’tbeattheoffice—christerandiwillhavetocarrytheload.can’tyouseethat？you’retheonearchingintoself-iposedexile.”

  “that’sthesecondthing.ineedabreak,erika.i’notfunctioninganyore.i’burnedout.apaidsabbaticalinhedestadightbeexactlywhatineed.”

  “thewholethingisidiotic,mikael.youightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”

  “iknow.buti’goingtoget2.4illionforsittingonybacksideforayear,andiwon’tbewastingytie.that’sthethirdthing.roundonewithwennerstr？isover,andheknockedeout.roundtwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkmillenniuforgoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillalwaysknohathe’sbeenupto,foraslongastheagazineexists.”

  “iknohathe’sdoing.i’veseenitintheonthlyadsalesfiguresforthelastsixonths.”

  “that’sexactlywhyihavetogetoutoftheoffice.i’likearedragwavingathi.he’sparanoidasfarasi’concerned.aslongasi’here,he’lljustkeeponing.noehav. comrepareourselvesforroundthree.ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestchanceagainstwennerstr？,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholenewstrategy.wehavetofindsoethingtohaerhiwith.that’llbeyjobthisyear.”

  “iunderstandallthat,”bergersaid.“sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.goabroad,lieonabeachforaonth.checkoutthelovelifeonthecostabrava.relax.goouttosandhanandlookatthewaves.”

  “andwheniebacknothingwillbedifferent.wennerstr？isgoingtocrushmillenniuunlessheisappeasedbyyhavingstooddown.youknowthat.theonlythingwhichightotherwise. comhiisifwegetsoethingonhithatwecanuse.”

  “andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindinhedestad？”

  “icheckedthecuttings.wennerstr？didworkatthevangerpanyfro1969to1972.hewasinanageentandwasresponsibleforstrategicplaceents.heleftinahurry.whyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythathenrikvangerdoeshavesoethingonhi？”

  “butifwhathedidhappenedthirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehar. comroveittoday.”

  “vangerproisedtosetoutindetailwhatheknows.he’sobsessedwiththisissinggirl—itseestobetheonl