ceciliavangerfeltalittletipsy.shehaddecidednottotelephoneblokvist.theirrelationshiphaddevelopedintoaridiculousbedroofarce,inwhichblokvisthadtotiptoearoundtryingtogettoherhouseunnoticed.sheinturnplayedalovesickteenagegirlwhocouldnotcontrolherself.herbehaviourthepastfeeekshadbeenreckless.

  theprobleisthatilikehitoouch,shethought.he’sgoingtoenduphurtinge.shesatforalongtiewishingthatmikaelblokvisthadneveretohedeby.

  shehadopenedabottleofwineanddrunktwoglassesinherloneliness.sheturnedonthetvtowatchrapportandtriedtofollowtheworldsituationbutverysoontiredofthereasonedentaryonwhypresidentbushhadtobobiraqtosithereens.insteadshesatontheliving-roosofaandpickedupgellerttaas’thelaserman.shereadonlyafewpagesbeforesheha. comutthedown.thatadeherinstantlythinkofherfather.whatkindoffantasiesdidhehave？

  thelasttietheyreallysaweachotherwasin1984,whenshewentwithhiandbirger,hare-huntingnorthofhedestad.birgerwastryingoutanewhuntingdog—aswedishfoxhoundwhichhehadjustacquired.haraldvangerwasseventy-threeatthetie,andshehaddoneherverybesttoaepthislunacy,whichhadadeherchildhoodanightareandaffectedherentireadultlife.

  ceciliahadneverbeforebeenasfragileasshewasthen.herarriagehadendedthreeonthsearlier.doesticviolence…theterwassobanal.forherithadtakentheforofunceasingabuse.blowstothehead,violentshoving,oodythreats,andbeingknockedtothekitchenfloor.herhusband’soutburstswereinexplicableandtheattackswerenotoftensoseverethatshewasactuallyinjured.shehadbeeusedtoit.

  untilthedaywhenshestruckbackandhepletelylostcontrol.itendedwithhiflingingsoescissorsatherwhichlodgedinhershoulderblade.

  hehadbeenreorsefulandpanickyanddrovehertothehospital,akingupastoryaboutaarreaidentwhichallthestaffintheeergencyroosawthroughatonce.shehadfeltashaed.theygavehertwelvestitchesandkeptherinthehospitalfortwodays.thenherunclepickedherupanddrovehertohishouse.sheneverspoketoherhusbandagain.

  onthatsunnyautundayharaldvangerhadbeeninagoodood,alostfriendly.butwithoutwarning,alongwayintothewoods,hebegantoberateherwithhuiliatinginvectiveandrevoltingrearksaboutheroralsandsexualpredilections.hesnarledthatnowondersuchawhorecouldneverkeepaan.

  herbrotherapparentlydidnotnoticethateverywordfrotheirfatherstruckherlikeawhiplash.instead,birgersuddenlylaughedandputhisararoundhisfatherandinhisownwayadelightofthesituationbyakingsoeenttotheeffectthatyouknowfullwellwhatwoenarelike.hegavececiliaacheerfulwinkandsuggestedthatharaldvangertakeupapositiononalittleridge.

  forasecond,afrozeninstant,ceciliavangerlookedatherfatherandbrotherandrealisedthatshewasholdingaloadedshotguninherhand.sheclosedhereyes.heronlyoptionatthatoentseeedtobetoraisethegunandfirebothbarrels.shewantedtokilltheboth.insteadshelaiddowntheweaponatherfeet,turnedonherheel,andwentbacktowheretheyhadparkedthecar.sheleftthehighanddry,drivinghoealone.sincethatdaysherefusedtoletherfatherintoherhouseandhadneverbeeninhis.

  youruinedylife,ceciliavangerthought.youruinedylifewheniwasjustachild.

  at8:30shecalledblokvist.

  bjuranwasinpain.hisuscleswerenousetohi.hisbodyseeedtobeparalysed.hecouldnotreeberifhehadlostconsciousness,buthewasdisoriented.whenheslowlyregainedcontroloverhisbodyhediscoveredthathewaslyingnakedonhisbed,hiswristsinhandcuffsandhislegsspreadpainfullyapart.hehadstingingburnarkswhereelectrodeshadtouchedhisbody.

  salanderhadpulledthecanechairoverandwaspatientlywaiting,herbootsrestingonthebedasshesokedacigarette.whenbjuranbegantospeaktoherhefoundthathisouthwassealed.heturnedhishead.shehadpulledoutallhisdrawersanddupedtheandthecontentsonthefloor.

  “ifoundyourtoys,”salandersaid.shehelduparidingwhipandpokedaroundintheheapofdildos,harnessbits,andrubberasksonthefloor.“what’sthisonefor？”sheheldupahugeanalplug.“no,don’ttrytospeak—iwon’thearwhatyousay.wasthiswhatyouusedonelastweek？allyouhavetodoisnod.”sheleanedtowardshiexpectantly.

  bjuranfeltcoldterrorpiercinghischestandlosthisposure.hetuggedathishandcuffs.shehadtakencontrol.ipossible.hecoulddonothingtoresistwhensalanderbentoverandplacedtheanalplugbetweenhisbuttocks.“soyou’reasadist,”shesaidatter-of-factly.“youenjoyshovingthingsinsidepeople,isthatit？”shelookedhiintheeyes.herfacewasexpressionless.“withoutalubricant,right？”

  bjuranhowledintotheadhesivetapewhensalanderroughlyspreadhischeeksandraedtheplugintoitsproperplace.

  “. comwhipering,”salandersaid,iitatinghisvoice.“ifyouplain,i’llhav. comunishyou.”

  shestoodupandwenttotheothersideofthebed.hefollowedherhelplesslywithhiseyes…whatthehellwasthis？salanderhadrolledinhisthirty-two-inchtvfrothelivingroo.shehadplacedhisdvdplayeronthefloor.shelookedathi,stillholdingthewhipinherhand.

  “doihaveyourundividedattention？don’ttrytotalk—justnod.didyouhearwhatisaid？”henodded.

  “good.”shebentdownandpickedupherrucksack.“doyourecognisethis？”henodded.“it’stherucksackihadwhenivisitedyoulastweek.apracticalite.iborroweditfromiltonsecurity.”sheunzippedthebo. comocket.“thisisadigitalvideocaera.doyoueverwatchinsiderontv3？thisisthegearthatthosenastyreportersusewhentheyhavetorecordsoethingwithahiddencaera.”shezippedthepocketbackup.

  “where’sthelens,you’rewondering.that’sthegreatthingaboutit.wideanglefibreoptics.thelenslookslikeabuttonandsitshiddeninthebuckleonashoulderstrap.maybeyoureeberthatiputtherucksackhereonthetablebeforeyoustartedtogropee.iadesurethatthelenswasdirectedstraightatthebed.”

  sheheldupadvdandslippeditintotheplayer.thensheturnedthecanechairsothatshecouldsitandwatchthescreen.shelitanothercigaretteandpressedthereote.advokatbjuransawhiselfopenthedoorforsalander.

  haven’tyouevenlearnedtotellthetie？

  sheplayedthewholediscforhi.thevideoendedafterniyinutes,intheiddleofascenewhereanakedadvokatbjuransatleaningagainstthebedsteaddrinkingaglassofwineashelookedatsalander,curledupwithherhandsfetteredbehindher.

  sheturnedoffthetvandsatinthechairforagoodteninuteswithoutlookingathi.bjurandidnotdareoveauscle.thenshegotupandwentintothebathroo.whenshecaebackshesatagaininthechair.hervoicewaslikesandpaper.

  “iadeaistakelastweek,”shesaid.“ithoughtyouweregoingtoakeegiveyouablowjobagain,whichisdisgustingenoughinyourcase,butnotsodisgustingthaticouldn’tdoit.ithoughticouldeasilyacquiregooddocuentatio. comroveyou’reafilthyoldprick.iisjudgedyou.ididn’tunderstandhowfuckingsickyouwere.

  “i’goingtospeakplainly,”shesaid.“thisvideoshowsyourapingaentallyhandicappedtwenty-four-year-oldgirlforwhoyouwereappointedguardian.andyouhavenoideahowentallyhandicappedicanbeifpushestoshove.anyonewhoseesthisvideowilldiscoverthatyou’renoterelyapervertbutaninsanesadist.thisisthesecondandihopethelasttiei’lleverhavetowatchthisvideo.it’squiteinstructive,don’tyouthink？myguessisthatyou’retheonewho’sgoingtobeinstitutionalised,note.areyoufollowingesofar？”

  shewaited.hedidnotreact,butshecouldseehiquivering.shegrabbedthewhipandflickeditrightoverhisgenitals.

  “areyoufollowinge？”shesaidoreloudly.henodded.

  “good.sowe’resingingfrothesaesongsheet.”

  shepulledthechairupclosesoshecouldlookintohiseyes.

  “whatdoyouthinkweshoulddoaboutthisproble？”hecouldnotgiveherananswer.“haveyouanygoodideas？”whenhedidnotreactshereachedoutandgrabbedhisscrotuandpulleduntilhisfacecontortedinpain.“haveyougotanygoodideas？”sherepeated.heshookhishead.

  “good.i’goingtobeprettyfuckingadatyouifyoueverhaveanyideasinthefuture.”

  sheleanedbackandstubbedhercigaretteoutonthecarpet.“thisiswhat’sgoingtohappen.nextweek,assoonasyouanagetoshitoutthatoversizedrubberpluginyourarse,you’regoingtorybankthati—andialone—haveaesstoyaount.doyouunderstandwhati’saying？”bjurannodded.

  “goodboy.youwillneverevercontacteagain.inthefuturewewilleetonlyifidecideit’snecessary.you’reunderarestrainingordertostayawayfroe.”henoddedrepeatedly.shedoesn’tintendtokille.

  “ifyouevertrytocontacteagain,copiesofthisdvdwillwindupineverynewsrooinstockhol.doyouunderstand？”

  henodded.ihavetogetholdofthatvideo.

  “onceayearyouwillturninyourreportonywelfaretotheguardianshipagency.youwillreportthatylifeispletelynoral,thatihaveasteadyjob,thati’supportingyself,andthatyoudon’tthinkthereisanythingabnoralaboutybehaviour.ok？”

  henodded.

  “eachonthyouwillprepareareportaboutyournon-existenteetingswithe.youwilldescribeindetailhowpositiveiaandhoellthingsaregoingfore.youwillpostacopytoe.doyouunderstand？”henoddedagain.salandernoticedabsent-indedlythebeadsofsweatforingonhisforehead.

  “inayearorso,let’ssaytwo,youwillinitiatenegotiationsinthedistrictcourttohaveydeclarationofinpetencerescinded.youwilluseyourfakedreportsfrooureetingsasthebasisforyourproposal.youwillfindashrinkwhowillswearunderoaththatiapletelynoral.you’regoingtohavetoakeaneffort.youwilldopreciselyeverythinginyourpowertoensurethatiadeclaredpetent.”

  henodded.

  “doyouknohyyou’regoingtodoyourverybest？becauseyouhaveafuckinggoodreason.ifyoufaili’goingtoakethisvideoextreelypublic.”

  helistenedtoeverysyllablesalanderwassaying.hiseyeswereburningwithhatred.hedecidedshehadadeaistakebylettinghilive.you’regoingtowindupeatingthis,youfuckingcunt.soonerorlateri’goingtocrushyou.buthecontinuednoddingasvigorouslyashecouldinreplytoeveryquestion.

  “thesaeappliesifyoutrytocontacte.”sheiedathroat-slittingotion.“goodbyetothiselegantlifestyleandyourfinereputationandyourillionsinthatoffshoreaount.”

  hiseyeswidenedinvoluntarilywhensheentionedtheoney.howthefuckinghelldidsheknowthat…

  shesiledandtookoutanothercigarette.

  “iwantyoursparesetofkeystothisapartentandyouroffice.”hefrowned.sheleanedforwardandsiledsweetly.

  “inthefuturei’goingtohavecontroloveryourlife.whenyouleastexpectit,whenyou’reinbedasleepprobably,i’goingtoappearinthebedroowiththisinyhand.”sheheldupthetaser.“i’llbecheckinguponyou.ifieverfindoutyouhavebeenwithagirlagain—anditdoesn’tatterifshe’shereofherownfreewill—ifieverfindyouwithanywoanatall…”salanderadethethroat-slittingotionagain.

  “ifishoulddie…ifishouldfallvictitoanaidentandberunoverbyacarorsoething…thencopiesofthevideowillautoaticallybepostedtothenewspapers.plusareportinwhichidescribewhatit’sliketohaveyouasaguardian.

  “oneorething.”sheleanedforwardagainsothatherfacewasonlyacoupleofinchesfrohis.“ifyouevertoucheagainiwillkillyou.andthat’saproise.”

  bjuranabsolutelybelievedher.therewasnotavestigeofbluffinhereyes.

  “keepitinindthati’crazy,won’tyou？”

  henodded.

  shegavehiathoughtfullook.“idon’tthinkyouandiaregoingtobegoodfriends,”salandersaid.“rightnowyou’relyingtherecongratulatingyourselfthati’dienoughtoletyoulive.youthinkyouhavecontroleventhoughyou’reyprisoner,sinceyouthinktheonlythingicandoifidon’tkillyouistoletyougo.soyou’refullofhopethatyoucansoehowrecoveryourpowerovererightaway.airight？”

  heshookhishead.hewasbeginningtofeelveryillindeed.

  “you’regoingtogetapresentfroesoyou’llalwaysreeberouragreeent.”

  shegavehiacrookedsileandclibedontothebedandkneltbetweenhislegs.bjuranhadnoideawhatsheintendedtodo,buthefeltasuddenterror.

  thenhesawtheneedleinherhand.

  hefloppedhisheadbackandforthandtriedtotwisthisbodyawayuntilsheputakneeonhiscrotchandpresseddowninwarning.

  “lieratherstillbecausethisisthefirsttiei’veusedthisequipent.”

  sheworkedsteadilyfortwohours.whenshewasfinishedhehad. compedwhipering.heseeedtobealostinastateofapathy.

  shegotdownfrothebed,cockedherheadtooneside,andregardedherhandiworkwithacriticaleye.herartistictalentswereliited.theletterslookedatbestipressionistic.shehadusedredandblueink.theessagewaswrittenincapsoverfivelinesthatcoveredhisbelly,frohisnipplestojustabovehisgenitals:iamasadisticpig,apervert,andarapist.

  shegathereduptheneedlesandplacedtheinkcartridgesinherrucksack.thenshewenttothebathrooandwashed.shefeltalotbetterwhenshecaebackinthebedroo.

  “goodnight,”shesaid.

  sheunlockedoneofthehandcuffsandputthekeyonhisstoachbeforesheleft.shetookherdvdandhisbundleofkeyswithher.

  itwasastheysharedacigarettesoetieafteridnightthathetoldhertheycouldnotseeeachotherforawhile.ceciliaturnedherfacetohiinsurprise.

  “whatdoyouean？”

  helookedashaed.“onmondayihavetog. comrisonforuptothreeonths.”

  nootherexplanationwasnecessary.cecilialayinsilenceforalongtie.shefeltlikecrying.

  draganaranskywassuspiciouswhensalanderknockedathisdooronmondayafternoon.hehadseennosignofhersincehecalledofftheinvestigationofthewennerstr？affairinearlyjanuary,andeverytiehetriedtoreachhersheeitherdidnotanswerorhungupsayingshewasbusy.

  “haveyougotajobfore？”sheaskedwithoutanygreeting.

  “hi.greattoseeyou.ithoughtyoudiedorsoething.”

  “therewerethingsihadtostraightenout.”

  “youoftenseetohavethingstostraightenout.”

  “thistieitwasurgent.i’backnow.haveyougotajobfore？”

  aranskyshookhishead.“sorry.notattheoent.”

  salanderlookedathically.afterawhilehestartedtalking.

  “lisbeth,youknowilikeyouandiliketogiveyoujobs.butyou’vebeengonefortwoonthsandi’vehadtonsofjobs.you’resiplynotreliable.i’veha. comayotherpeopletocoverforyou,andrightnowiactuallydon’thaveathing.”

  “couldyouturnupthevolue？”

  “what？”

  “ontheradio.”

  …theagazinemillenniu.thenewsthatveteranindustrialisthenrikvangerwillbepartownerandwillhaveaseatontheboardofdirectorsofmillenniuesthesaedaythattheforerceoandpublishermikaelblokvistbeginsservinghisthree-onthsentenceforthelibelofbusinessanhans-erikwennerstr？.millenniu’seditorinchieferikabergerannouncedatapressconferencethatblokvistwillresuehisroleaspublisherwhenhissentenceispleted.

  “well,isn’tthatsoething,”salandersaidsoquietlythataranskyonlysawherlipsove.shestoodupandheadedforthedoor.

  “wait.whereareyougoing？”

  “hoe.iwanttochecksoestuff.callewhenyou’vegotsoething.”

  thenewsthatmillenniuhadacquiredrerceentsintheforofhenrikvangerwasaconsiderablybiggereventthanlisbethsalanderhadexpected.aftonbladet’seveningeditionwasalreadyout,withastoryfrothettwireservicesuingupvanger’scareerandstatingthatitwasthefirsttieinalosttwentyyearsthattheoldindustrialagnatehadadeapublicappearance.thenewsthathewasbeingpartownerofmillenniuwasviewedasjustasiprobableaspeterwallenbergorerikpenserpoppingupaspartownersofetcorsponsorsofordfrontagazine.

  thestorywassobigthatthe7:30editionofrapportranitasitsthirdleadandgaveitathree-inuteslot.erikabergerwasinterviewedataconferencetableinmillenniu’soffice.allofasuddenthewennerstr？affairwasnewsagain.

  “weadeaseriousistakelastyearwhichresultedintheagazinebeingprosecutedforlibel.thisissoethingweregret…andwewillbefollowingupthisstoryatasuitableoasion.”

  “whatdoyoueanby‘followingupthestory’？”thereportersaid.

  “ieanthatwewilleventuallybetellingourversionofevents,whichwehavenotdohusfar.”

  “youcouldhavedohatatthetrial.”

  “wechosenottodoso.butourinvestigativejournaliswillcontinueasbefore.”

  “doesthateanyou’reholdingtothestorythatproptedtheindictent？”

  “ihavenothingoretosayonthatsubject.”

  “yousackedmikaelblokvistaftertheverdictwasdelivered.”

  “thatisinaurate.readourpressrelease.heneededabreak.he’llbebackasceoandpublisherlater