thegirlwho,twoyearsearlier,wasalivelyteenagerhadbeguntodistanceherselffroeveryonearoundher.inschoolshestillspenttiewithherfriends,butnowshebehavedinan“ipersonal”anner,asoneofherfriendsdescribedit.thiswordwasunusualenoughformorelltohaveadeanoteofitandthenaskorequestions.theexplanationhegotwasthatharriethad. compedtalkingaboutherself,. compedgossiping,and. compedconfidinginherfriends.

  harrietvangerhadbeenachristian,inachild’ssenseoftheword—attendingsundayschool,sayingeveningprayers,andbeingconfired.inherlastyearsheseeedtohavebeeyetorereligious.shereadthebibleandwentregularlytochurch.butshehadnotturnedtohedebyisland’spastor,ottofalk,whowasafriendofthevangerfaily.instead,duringthespringshehadsoughtoutapentecostalcongregationinhedestad.yetherinvolveentinthepentecostalchurchdidnotlastlong.afteronlytwoonthssheleftthecongregationandinsteadbeganreadingsaboutthecatholicfaith.

  thereligiousinfatuationofateenager？perhaps,butno-oneelseinthevangerfailyhadeverbeennoticeablyreligious,anditwasdifficulttodiscernwhatipulsesayhaveguidedher.oneexplanationforherinterestingodcould,ofcourse,havebeenthatherfatherhaddrownedthepreviousyear.morellcaetotheconclusionthatsoethinghadhappenedinharriet’slifethatwastroublingheroraffectingher.morell,likevanger,haddevotedagreatdealoftietotalkingtoharriet’sfriends,tryingtofindsoeoneinwhosheighthaveconfided.

  soeeasureofhopewaspinnedonanitavanger,twoyearsolderthanharrietandthedaughterofharald.shehadspentthesuerof1966onhedebyislandandtheywerethoughttobeclosefriends.butanitahadnosolidrationtooffer.theyhadhungouttogetherthatsuer,swiing,takingwalks,talkingaboutovies,popbands,ands.harriethadsoetiesgonewithanitawhenshetookdrivinglessons.oncetheyhadgothappilydrunkonabottleofwiheystolefrothehouse.forseveralweeksthetwoofthehadalsostayedatgottfried’scabinontheverytipoftheisland.

  thequestionsaboutharriet’sprivatethoughtsandfeelingsreainedunanswered.butblokvistdidakeanoteofadiscrepancyinthereport:therationaboutherununicativefraeofindcaechieflyfroherclassates,andtoacertainextentfrothefaily.anitavangerhadnotthoughtofherasbeingintrovertedatall.headeanotetodiscussthisatterwithvangeratsoepoint.

  aoreconcretequestion,towhichmorellhaddevoteduchoreattention,wasasurprisingpageinharriet’sdate,abeautifulboundshehadbeengivenasachristaspresenttheyearbeforeshedisappeared.thefirsthalfofthedatewasaday-by-daycalendarinwhichharriethadlistedeetings,thedatesofexasatschool,herhoework,andsoon.thedatealsohadalargesectionforadiary,butharrietusedthediaryonlysporadically.shebeganabitiouslyenoughinjanuarywithanybriefentriesaboutpeopleshehadetoverthechristasholidaysandseveralaboutfilsshehadseen.afterthatshewrotenothingpersonaluntiltheendoftheschoolyearwhensheapparently—dependingonhowtheentrieswereinterpreted—becaeinterestedfroadistanceinsoenever-naedboy.

  thepagesthatlistedtelephonenubersweretheonesthatheldtherealystery.neatly,inalphabeticalorder,werethenaesandnubersoffailyebers,classates,certainteachers,severalebersofthepentecostalcongregation,andothereasilyidentifiableindividualsinhercircleofacquaintances.ontheverylastpageoftheaddress,whichwasblankandnotreallypartofthealphabeticalsection,therewerefivenaesandtelephonenubers.threefealenaesandtwosetsofinitials:

  magda—32016

  sara—32109

  r.j.—30112

  r.l.—32027

  mari—32018

  thetelephonenubersthatbeganwith32werehedestadnubersinthesixties.theonebeginningwith30wasanorrbynnuber,notfarfrohedestad.theproblewasthatwhenmorellcontactedeveryoneofharriet’sfriendsandacquaintances,no-onehadanyideawhosenuberstheywere.

  thefirstnuberbelongingto“magda”initiallyseeedproising.itledtoahaberdasheryatparkgatan12.thetelephonewasinthenaeofonemargotlundark,whoseother’snaewasactuallymagda；shesoetieshelpedoutinthestore.butmagdawassixty-nineyearsoldandhadnoideawhoharrietvangerwas.norwasthereanyevidencethatharriethadevervisitedtheshoporboughtanythingthere.shewasn’tinterestedinsewing.

  thesecondnuberfor“sara”belongedtoafailybythenaeoftoresson,wholivedinv？ststan,ontheothersideofthetracks.thefailyincludedandersandmonicaandtheirchildren,jonasandpeter,whoatthetiewerepre-schoolage.therewasnosarainthefaily,nordidtheyknowofharrietvanger,otherthanthatshehadbeenreportedintheediaasissing.theonlyvagueconnectionbetweenharrietandthetoressonfailywasthatanders,whowasaroofer,hadseveralweeksearlierputatiledroofontheschoolwhichharrietattended.sotheoreticallytherewasachancethattheyhadet,althoughitightbeconsideredextreelyunlikely.

  thereainingthreenubersledtosiilardeadends.thenuber32027for“r.l.”hadactuallybelongedtoonerosarielarsson.unfortunately,shehaddiedseveralyearsearlier.

  inspectormorellconcentratedagreatdealofhisattentionduringthewinterof1966–67ontryingtoexplainwhyharriethadwrittendownthesenaesandnubers.

  onepossibilitywasthatthetelephonenuberswerewritteninsoepersonalcode—somorelltriedtoguesshowateenagegirlwouldthink.sincethethirty-twoseriesobviouslypointedtohedestad,hesetaboutrearrangingthereainingthreedigits.neither32601or32160ledtoamagda.asmorellcontinuedhisnuerology,herealisedthatifheplayedaroundwithenoughofthenubers,soonerorlaterhewouldfindsoelinktoharriet.forexaple,ifheaddedooeachofthethreereainingdigitsin32016,hegot32127—whichwasthenubertofrode’sofficeinhedestad.butonelinklikethateantnothing.besides,heneverdiscoveredacodethatadesenseofallfiveofthenubers.

  morellbroadenedhisinquiry.couldthedigitsean,forexaple,carnuberplates,whichinthesixtiescontainedthetwo-lettercountyregistrationcodeandfivedigits？anotherdeadend.

  theinspectorthenconcentratedonthenaes.heobtainedalistofeveryoneinhedestadnaedmari,magda,orsaraorwhohadtheinitialsr.l.orr.j.hehadalistof307people.aongthese,29actuallyhadsoeconnectiontoharriet.forinstance,aboyfroherclasswasnaedrolandjacobsson—r.j.theyscarcelykneweachotherandhadhadnocontactsinceharrietstartedpreparatoryschool.andtherewasnolinktothetelephonenuber.

  theysteryofthenubersinthedatereainedunsolved.

  herfourthencounterwithadvokatbjuranwasnotoneoftheirscheduledeetings.shewasforcedtoakecontactwithhi.

  inthesecondweekoffebruarysalander’sla. comfellvictitoanaidentthatwassouncalledforthatshefeltanurgentdesiretokillsoeone.shehadriddenherbiketoaeetingatmiltonsecurityandparkeditbehindapillarinthegarage.asshesetherrucksackonthegroun. comutonthebikelock,adarkredsaabbeganreversingout.shehadherbackturnedbutheardthecrackingsoundfroherrucksack.thedriverdidn’tnoticeathingand,unwitting,droveoffuptheexitrap.

  therucksackcontainedherwhiteapplei600with5-gigharddriveand420egsofram,anufacturedinjanuary2002andequippedwith4-inchscreen.atthetiesheboughtit,itwasapple’sstate-of-the-artla. com.salander’sputerswereupgradedwiththeverylatestandsoetiesostexpensiveconfigurations—puterequipentwastheonlyextravagantentryonherlistofexpenses.

  whensheopenedtherucksack,shecouldseethatthelidofherputerwascracked.shepluggedinthepoweradapterandtriedtobootuptheputer；notevenadeathrattle.shetookitovertotiy’smacjesusshoponbr？nnkyrkagatan,hopingthatatleastsoethingontheharddrivecouldbesaved.afterfiddlingwithitforashorttie,tiyshookhishead.

  “sorry.nohope,”hesaid.“you’llhavetoarrangeanicefuneral.”

  thelossofherputerwasdepressingbutnotdisastrous.salanderhadhadanexcellentrelationshipwithitduringtheyearshehadownedit.shehadbackedupallherdocuents,andshehadanolderdes. commacg3athoe,aswellasafive-year-oldtoshibapcla. comthatshecoulduse.butsheneededafast,odernachine.

  unsurprisinglyshesethersightsonthebestavailablealternative:thenewapplepowerg4/1.0ghzinanaluiniucasewithapowerpc7451processorwithanaltivecvelocityengine,960mbramanda60gbharddrive.ithadbluetoothandbuilt-incdanddvdburners.

  bestofall,ithadthefirst17-inchscreeninthela. comworldwithnvidiagraphicsandaresolutionof1440x900pixels,whichshookthepcadvocatesandoutrankedeverythingelseonthearket.

  intersofhardware,itwastherolls-royceofportableputers,butwhatreallytriggeredsalander’sneedtohaveitwasthesiplefeaturethatthekeyboardwasequippedwithbacklighting,sothatshecouldseethelettersevenifitwaspitchdark.sosiple.whyhadno-ohoughtofthatbefore？

  itwasloveatfirstsight.

  itcost38,000kronor,plustax.

  thatwastheproble.

  ewhatay,sheputinherorderatmacjesus.sheboughtallherputeraessoriesthere,sotheygaveherareasonablediscount.shetalliedupherexpenses.theinsuranceonherruinedputerwouldcoveragoodpartoftheprice,butwiththewarrantyandthehigherpriceofhernewacquisition,shewasstill18,000kronorshort.shehad10,000kronorhiddeninacoffeetinathoebutthatwasall.shesentevilthoughtstoherrbjuran,butthenshebitthebulletandcalledherguardiantoexplainthatsheneededoneyforanunexpectedexpense.bjuran’ssecretarysaidthathehadnotietoseeherthatday.salanderrepliedthatitwouldtaketheantwentysecondstowriteoutachequefor10,000kronor.shewastoldtobeathisofficeat7:30thatevening.

  blokvistighthavenoexperienceofevaluatingcriinalinvestigations,buthereckonedthatinspectormorellhadbeenexceptionallyconscientious.whenblokvisthadfinishedwiththepoliceinvestigation,morellstillkeptturningupasaplayerinvanger’sownnotes.theyhadbeefriends,andblokvistwonderedwhethermorellhadbeenasobsessedasthecaptainofindustrybecae.

  itwasunlikely,inhisview,thatmorellhadissedanything.thesolutiontotheysterywasnotgoingtobefoundinthepolicerecords.everyiaginablequestionhadbeenasked,andallleadsfollowedup,evensoethatseeedabsurdlyfar-fetched.hehadnotreadeverywordofthereport,butthefurtherintotheinvestigationhegot,theoreobscurethesubsequentleadsandtipsbecae.hewasnotgoingtofindanythingthathisprofessionalpredecessorandhisexperiencedteahadissed,andhewasundecidedwhatapproachheshouldadopttotheproble.eventuallyitcaetohithattheonlyreasonablypracticalrouteforhitotakewastotrytofindoutthepsychologicalotivesoftheindividualsinvolved.

  thefirstquestionhadtodowithharrietherself.whowasshe？

  frohiskitchenwindowblokvisthadnoticedalightgoonupstairsinceciliavanger’shouseatalittleafter5:00intheafternoon.heknockedonherdoorat7:30,justasthenewsbroadcastwasstartingontv.sheopenedthedoordressedinherbathrobe,herhairwetunderayellowtowel.blokvistapologisedatoncefordisturbingherandadetoretreat,butshewavedhiintothelivingroo.sheturnedonthecoffeeakerandvanishedupstairsforafewinutes.whenshecaebackdown,shehadputonjeansandacheckflannelshirt.

  “iwasstartingtothinkyouwerenevergoingtocall.”

  “ishouldhaverungfirst,butisawyourlightwasonandcaeoveronipulse.”

  “i’veseenthelightsonallnightatyourplace.andyou’reoftenoutwalkingafteridnight.you’reanightowl？”

  blokvistshrugged.“it’sturnedoutthatway.”helookedatseveraltextsstackedontheedgeofthekitchentable.“doyoustillteach？”

  “no,asheadistressidon’thavetie.butiusedtoteachhistory,religion,andsocialstudies.andihaveafewyearsleft.”

  “left？”

  shesiled.“i’fifty-six.i’llberetiringsoon.”

  “youdon’tlookadayoverfifty,orelikeinyourforties.”

  “veryflattering.howoldareyou？”

  “well,overforty,”blokvistsaidwithasile.

  “andyouwerejusttwentytheotherday.howfastitallgoes.life,thatis.”

  ceciliavangerservedthecoffeeandaskedifhewashungry.hesaidthathehadalreadyeaten,whichwaspartlytrue.hedidnotbotherwithcookingandateonlysandwiches.buthewasnothungry.

  “thenwhydidyoueover？isittietoaskethosequestions？”

  “tobehonest…ididn’teovertoaskquestions.ithinkijustwantedtosayhello.”

  shesiled.“you’resentence. comrison,youovetohedeby,claberthroughalltheaterialofhenrik’sfavouritehobby,youdon’tsleepatnightandtakelongnighttiewalkswhenit’sfreezingcold…haveileftanythingout？”

  “mylifeisgoingtothedogs.”

  “whowasthatwoanvisitingyouovertheweekend？”

  “erika…she’stheeditorinchiefofmillenniu.”

  “yourgirlfriend？”

  “notexactly.she’sarried.i’oreafriendandoasionallover.”

  ceciliavangerhootedwithlaughter.

  “what’ssofunny？”

  “thewayyousaidthat.oasionallover.iliketheexpression.”

  blokvisttookalikingtoceciliavanger.

  “icoulduseanoasionalloveryself,”shesaid.

  shekickedoffherslippersandproppedonefootonhisknee.blokvistautoaticallyputhishandonherfootandstrokedtheankle.hehesitatedforasecond—hecouldsensehewasgettingintounexpectedwaters.buttentativelyhestartedassagingthesoleofherfootwithhisthub.

  “i’arriedtoo,”shesaid.

  “iknow.no-onegetsdivorcedinthevangerclan.”

  “ihaven’tseenyhusbandingettingonfortwentyyears.”

  “whathappened？”

  “that’snoneofyourbusiness.ihaven’thadsexin…h,itustbethreeyearsnow.”

  “thatsurprisese.”

  “why？it’saatterofsupplyanddeand.ihavenointerestinaboyfriendoraarriedanorsoeonelivingwithe.idobestonyown.whoshouldihavesexwith？oneoftheteachersatschool？idon’tthinkso.oneofthestudents？adeliciousstoryforthegossipingoldladies.andtheykeepaclosewatchonpeoplecalledvanger.andhereonhedebyislandthereareonlyrelativesandpeoplealreadyarried.”

  sheleanedforwardandkissedhiontheneck.

  “doishockyou？”

  “no.butidon’tknohetherthisisagoodidea.iworkforyouruncle.”

  “andi’thelastonewho’sgoingtotell.buttobehonest,henrikprobablywouldn’thaveanythingagainstit.”

  shesatastridehiandkissedhiontheouth.herhairwasstillwetandfragrantwithshapoo.hefubledwiththebuttonsonherflannelshirtandpulleditdownaroundhershoulders.shehadnobra.shepressedagainsthiwhenhekissedherbreasts.

  bjurancaeroundthedesktoshowherthestateentofherbankaount—whichsheknewdowntothelast？re,althoughitwasnolongeratherdisposal.hestoodbehindher.suddenlyhewasassagingthebackofherneck,andheletonehandslidefroherleftshoulderacrossherbreasts.heputhishandoverherrightbreastandleftitthere.whenshedidnotseetoobject,hesqueezedherbreast.salanderdidnotove.shecouldfeelhisbreathonherneckasshestudiedtheletteropeneronhisdesk；shecouldreachitwithherfreehand.

  butshedidnothing.iftherewasonelessonholgerpalgrenhadtaughtherovertheyears,itwasthatipulsiveactionsledtotrouble,andtroublecouldhaveunpleasantconsequences.sheneverdidanythingwithoutfirstweighingtheconsequences.

  theinitialsexualassault—whichinlegalterswouldbedefinedassexualolestationandtheexploitationofanindividualinapositionofdependence,andcouldintheorygetbjuranuptotwoyearsinprison—lastedonlyafewseconds.butitwasenoughtoirrevocablycrossaboundary.forsalanderitwasadisplayofstrengthbyaneneyforce—anindicationthatasidefrotheircarefullydefinedlegalrelationship,shewasattheercyofhisdiscretionanddefenceless.whentheireyesetafewsecondslater,hislipswereslightlypartedandshecouldreadthelustonhisface.salander’sownfacebetrayednoeotionsatall.

  bjuranovedbacktohissideofthedeskandsatonhisfortableleatherchair.

  “ican’thandoutoneytoyouwheneveryoulike,”hesaid.“whydoyouneedsuchanexpensiveputer？thereareplentyofcheaperodelsthatyoucanuseforplayingputergaes.”

  “iwanttohavecontrolofyownoneylikebefore.”

  bjurangaveherapityinglook.

  “we’llhavetoseehowthingsgo.firstyouneedtolearntobeoresociableandgetalongwithpeople.”

  bjuran’ssileighthavebeenoresubduedifhecouldhavereadhert