hewentupthenarrowstairsandlookedaroundthesleepingloft.therewasadoublebedwithabareattress,abedsidetable,andachestofdrawers.

  blokvistspentawhilesearchingthroughthecabin.thebureauwaseptyexceptforsoehandtowelsandlinensellingfaintlyofould.inthewardrobethereweresoeworkclothes,apairofoveralls,rubberboots,apairofworntennisshoes,andakerosenestove.inthedeskdrawerswerewritingpaper,pencils,ablanksketchpad,adeckofcards,andsoearks.thekitchencupboardcontainedplates,ugs,glasses,candles,andsoepackagesofsalt,teabags,andthelike.inadrawerinthetabletherewereeatingutensils.

  hefoundtheonlytracesofanyintellectualinterestsonthecaseabovethedesk.mikaelbroughtoverachairandgotuponittoseewhatwasontheshelves.onthelowestshelflayissuesofse,rekordagasi,tidsf？rdriv,andlektyrfrothelatefiftiesandearlysixties.therewereseveralbildjournalenfro1965and1966,mattlivsnovell,andafewics:the91,phantoen,androans.heopenedacopyoflektyrfro1964andsiledtoseehowchastethepin-upwas.

  ofthes,abouthalfwereysterypaperbacksfrowahlstr？’smanhattanseries:mickeyspillanewithtitleslikekissme,deadlywiththeclassioversbybertilhegland.hefoundhalfadozenkittys,soefaousfivenovelsbyenidblyton,andatwinmysterybysivarahlrud—themetromystery.hesiledinrecognition.threesbyastridlindgren:thechildrenofnoisyvillage,kalleblokvistandrasus,andpippilongstocking.th. comshelfhadaaboutshort-waveradio,twosonastronoy,abirdguide,acalledtheevilepireonthesovietunion,aonthefinnishwinterwar,luther’scatechis,theofhyns,andthebible.

  heopenedthebibleandreadontheinsidecover:harrietvanger,may12,1963.itwasherconfirationbible.hesadlyputitbackontheshelf.

  behindthecabintherewereawoodandtoolshedwithascythe,rake,haer,andabigboxwithsaws,planes,andothertools.hetookachairontotheporchandpouredcoffeefrohistheros.helitacigaretteandlookedacrosshedestadbaythroughtheveilofundergrowth.

  gottfried’scabinwasuchoreodestthanhehadexpected.herewastheplacetowhichharrietandmartin’sfatherhadretreatedwhenhisarriagetoisabellawasgoingtothedogsinthelatefifties.hehadadethiscabinhishoeandherehegotdrunk.anddownthere,nearthewharf,hehaddrowned.lifeatthecabinhadprobablybeenpleasantinthesuer,butwhentheteperaturedroppedtofreezingitusthavebeenrawandwretched.aordingtowhatvangertoldhi,gottfriedcontinuedtoworkinthevangercorporation—interruptedbyperiodswhenhewasonwildbinges—until1964.thefactthathewasabletoliveinthecabinoreorlessperanentlyandstillappearforworkshaven,washed,andinajacketandtiespokeofasurvivingpersonaldiscipline.

  andherewasalsotheplacethatharriethadbeentosooftenthatitwasoneofthefirstinwhichtheylookedforher.vangerhadtoldhithatduringherlastyear,harriethadgoneoftentothecabin,apparentlytobeinpeaceonweekendsorholidays.inherlastsuershehadlivedhereforthreeonths,thoughshecaeintothevillageeveryday.anitavanger,cecilia’ssister,spentsixweekswithherhere.

  whathadshedoneouthereallalone？theagazinesmittlivsnovellandroans,aswellasanuberofsaboutkitty,usthavebeenhers.perhapsthesketchpadhadbeenhers.andherbiblewashere.

  shehadwantedtobeclosetoherlostfather—wasitaperiodofourningsheneededtogetthrough？ordidithavetodowithherreligiousbrooding？thecabinwasspartan—wasshepretendingtoliveinaconvent？

  blokvistfollowedtheshoreliothesoutheast,butthewaywassointerruptedbyravinesandsogrownoverwithjunipershrubsthatitwasallbutipassable.hewentbacktothecabinandstartedbackontheroadtohedeby.aordingtotheaptherewasapaththroughthewoodstosoethingcalledthefortress.ittookhitwentyinutestofinditintheovergrownscrub.thefortresswaswhatreainedoftheshorelinedefencefrothesecondworldwar；concretebunkerswithtrenchesspreadoutaroundaandbuilding.everythingwasoverrunwithlonggrassandscrub.

  hewalkeddownapathtoaboathouse.nexttotheboathousehefoundthewreckofapetterssonboat.hereturnedtothefortressandtookapathuptoafence—hehadeto？sterg？rdenfrotheotherside.

  hefollowedtheeanderingpaththroughthewoods,roughlyparalleltothefieldsof？sterg？rden.thepathwasdifficulttonegotiate—therewerepatchesofarshthathehadtoskirt.finallyhecaetoaswapandbeyonditabarn.asfarashecouldseethepathendedthere,ahundredyardsfrotheroadto？sterg？rden.

  beyondtheroadlaythehill,s？derberget.blokvistwalkedupasteepslopeandhadtoclibthelastbit.s？derberget’ssuitwasanalostverticalclifffacingthewater.hefollowedtheridgebacktowardshedeby.he. compedabovethesuercottagestoenjoytheviewoftheoldfishingharbourandthechurchandhisowncottage.hesatonaflatrockandpouredhiselfthelastofthelukewarcoffee.

  ceciliavangerkeptherdistance.blokvistdidnotwanttobeiportunate,sohewaitedaweekbeforehewenttoherhouse.shelethiin.

  “youustthinki’quitefoolish,afifty-six-year-old,respectableheadistressactinglikeateenagegirl.”

  “cecilia,you’reagrownwoan.youhavetherighttodowhateveryouwant.”

  “iknowandthat’swhyi’vedecidednottoseeyouanyore.ican’tstand…”

  “please,youdon’toweeanexplanation.ihopewe’restillfriends.”

  “iwouldlikeforustoreainfriends.butican’tdealwitharelationshipwithyou.ihaven’teverbeengoodatrelationships.i’dlikeitifyouwouldleaveeinpeaceforawhile.”

  chapter16

  sunday,june1–tuesday,june10

  aftersixonthsoffruitlesscogitation,thecaseofharrietvangercrackedopen.inthefirstweekofjune,blokvistuncoveredthreetotallynewpiecesofthepuzzle.twoofthehefoundhiself.thethirdhehadhelpwith.

  afterberger’svisitinmay,hehadstudiedthealbuagain,sittingforthreehours,lookingatonephotographafteranother,ashetriedtorediscoverwhatitwasthathehadreactedto.hefailedagain,soheputthealbuasideandwentbacktoworkonthefailychronicleinstead.

  onedayinjunehewasinhedestad,thinkingaboutsoethingaltogetherdifferent,whenhisbusturnedontoj？rnv？gsgatananditsuddenlycaetohiwhathadbeengerinatinginthebackofhisind.theinsightstruckhilikeathunderboltoutofaclearsky.hefeltsoconfusedthathestayedonthebusallthewaytothelast. combytherailwaystation.therehetookthefirstbusbacktohedebytocheckwhetherhehadreeberedcorrectly.

  itwasthefirstphotographinthealbu,thelastpicturetakenofharrietvangeronthatfatefuldayonj？rnv？gsgataninhedestad,whileshehadbeenwatchingthechildren’sdayparade.

  thephotographwasanoddoohaveincludedinthealbu.itwasputtherebecauseitwastakenthesaeday,butitwastheonlyoneofthephotographsnotoftheaidentonthebridge.eachtieblokvistandeveryoneelsehadlookedatthealbu,itwasthepeopleandthedetailsinthepicturesofthebridgethathadcapturedtheirattention.therewasnodraainthepictureofacrowdatthechildren’sdayparade,severalhoursearlier.

  vangerusthavelookedatthephotographathousandties,asorrowfulreinderthathewouldneverseeheragain.

  butthatwasnotwhatblokvisthadreactedto.

  itwastakenfroacrossthestreet,probablyfroafirst-floorwindow.thewide-anglelenshadcaughtthefrontofoneofthefloats.ontheflatbedwerewoenwearingglitteringbathingsuitsandharetrousers,throwingsweetstothecrowd.soeoftheweredancing.threeclownswerejupingaboutinfrontofthefloat.

  harrietwasinthefrontrowofthecrowdstandingonthepaveent.nexttoherwerethreegirls,clearlyherclassates,andaroundandbehindthewereatleastahundredotherspectators.

  thisiswhatblokvisthadnoticedsubconsciouslyandwhichsuddenlyrosetothesurfacewhenthebuspassedtheexactsaespot.

  thecrowdbehavedasanaudienceshould.theireyesalwaysfollowtheballinatennisatchorthepuckinanicehockeyrink.theonesstandingatthefarleftofthephotographwerelookingattheclownsrightinfrontofthe.theonesclosertothefloatwerealllookingatthescantilycladgirls.theexpressionsontheirfaceswerecal.childrenpointed.soewerelaughing.everyonelookedhappy.

  allexceptone.

  harrietvangerwaslookingofftotheside.herthreefriendsandeveryoneelseinhervicinitywerelookingattheclowns.harriet’sfacewasturnedalost30°to35°toherright.hergazeseeedfixedonsoethingacrossthestreet,butbeyondtheleft-handedgeofthephotograph.

  mikaeltooktheagnifyingglassandtriedtoakeoutthedetails.thephotographwastakenfrotoogreatadistanceforhitobeentirelysure,butunlikeallthosearoundher,harriet’sfacelackedexciteent.herouthwasathinline.hereyeswerewideopen.herhandshungliplyathersides.shelookedfrightened.frightenedorfurious.

  mikaeltooktheprintoutofthealbu,putitinastiffplasticbinder,andwenttowaitforthenextbusbackintohedestad.hegotoffatj？rnv？gsgatanandstoodunderthewindowfrowhichthepictureusthavebeentaken.itwasattheedgeofwhatconstitutedhedestad’stowncentre.itwasatwo-storeywoodenbuildingthathousedavideostoreandsundstr？’shaberdashery,establishedin1932aordingtoaplaqueonthefrontdoor.hewentinandsawthattheshopwasontwolevels；aspiralstaircaseledtotheupperfloor.

  atth. comofthespiralstaircasetwowindowsfacedthestreet.

  “mayihelpyou？”saidanelderlysalesanwhenblokvisttookoutthebinderwiththephotograph.therewereonlyafewpeopleintheshop.

  “well,ijustwantedtoseewherethispicturewastakenfro.woulditbeokifiopenedthewindowforasecond？”

  theansaidyes.blokvistcouldseeexactlythespotwhereharriethadstood.oneofthewoodenbuildingsbehindherinthephotographwasgone,replacedbyanangularbrickbuilding.theotherwoodenbuildinghadbeenastationerystorein1966；nowitwasahealthfoodstoreandtanningsalon.blokvistclosedthewindow,thankedthean,andapologisedfortakinguphistie.

  hecrossedthestreetandstoodwhereharriethadstood.hehadgoodlandarksbetweenthewindowoftheupperfloorofthehaberdasheryandthedoorofthetanningsalon.heturnedhisheadandlookedalongharriet’slineofsight.asfarashecouldtell,shehadbeenlookingtowardsthecornerofthebuildingthathousedsundstr？’shaberdashery.itwasaperfectlynoralcornerofabuilding,whereacrossstreetvanishedbehindit.whatdidyouseethere,harriet？

  blokvistputthephotographinhisshoulderbagandwalkedtotheparkbythestation.therehesatinapaveentcaféandorderedalatte.hesuddenlyfeltshaken.

  inenglishtheycallit“newevidence,”whichhasaverydifferentsoundfrotheswedishter,“newproofaterial.”hehadseensoethingentirelynew,soethingno-oneelsehadnoticedinaninvestigationthathadbeenarkingtieforthirty-sevenyears.

  theproblewasthathewasn’tsurewhatvaluehisnewrationhad,ifindeeditcouldhaveanyatall.andyethefeltitwasgoin. comrovesignificant.

  thesepteberdaywhenharrietdisappearedhadbeendraaticinanuberofways.ithadbeenadayofcelebrationinhedestadwithcrowdsofseveralthousandinthestreets,youngandold.ithadbeenthefaily’sannualasseblyonhedebyisland.thesetwoeventsalonerepresenteddeparturesfrothedailyroutineofthearea.thecrashonthebridgehadovershadowedeverythingelse.

  inspectormorell,henrikvanger,andeveryoneelsewhohadbroodedaboutharriet’sdisappearancehadfocusedontheeventsathedebyisland.morellhadevenwrittenthathecouldnotridhiselfofthesuspicionthattheaidentandharriet’sdisappearancewererelated.blokvistwasnowconvincedthatthisnotionwaswrong.

  thechainofeventshadstartednotonhedebyislandbutinhedestadseveralhoursearlier.harrietvangerhadseensoethingorsoeoofrightenherandpropthertogohoe,gostraighttoheruncle,whounhappilydidnothavetietolistentoher.thentheaidentonthebridgehappened.thentheurdererstruck.

  blokvistpaused.itwasthefirsttiehehadconsciouslyforulatedtheassuptionthatharriethadbeenurdered.heaeptedvanger’sbelief.harrietwasdeadandhewashuntingforakiller.

  hewentbacktothepolicereport.aongallthethousandsofpagesonlyafractiondealtwiththeeventsinhedestad.harriethadbeenwiththreeofherclassates,allofwhohadbeeninterviewed.theyhadetattheparkbythestationat9:00.oneofthegirlswasgoingtobuysoejeans,andherfriendswentwithher.theyhadcoffeeintheepadepartentstorecafeteriaandthenwentuptothesportsfieldandstrolledaroundaongthecarnivalboothsandfishingponds,wheretheyranintosoeotherfriendsfroschool.atnoontheywanderedbackintotowntowatchtheparade.justbefore2:00intheafternoonharrietsuddenlytoldthethatshehadtogohoe.theysaidgoodbyeatabus. comnearj？rnv？gsgatan.

  noneofherfriendshadnoticedanythingunusual.oneofthewasingerstenberg,theonewhohaddescribedharriet’stransforationoverthepastyearbysayingthatshehadbee“ipersonal.”shesaidthatharriethadbeentaciturnthatday,whichwasusual,andostlyshejustfollowedtheothers.

  inspectormorellhadtalkedtoallofthepeoplewhohadencounteredharrietthatday,eveniftheyhadonlysaidhellointhegroundsofthefailyparty.aphotographofherwaspublishedinthelocalnewspaperswhilethesearchwasgoingon.aftershewentissing,severalresidentsofhedestadhadcontactedthepolicetosaythattheythoughttheyhadseenherduringthedayoftheparade,butno-onehadreportedanythingoutoftheordinary.

  thenextorningblokvistfoundvangerathisbreakfasttable.

  “yousaidthatthevangerfailystillhasaninterestinthehedestadcourier.”

  “that’sright.”

  “i’dliketohaveaesstotheirphotographicarchive.fro1966.”

  vangersetdownhisglassofilkandwipedhisupperlip.

  “mikael,whathaveyoudiscovered？”

  helookedtheoldanstraightintheeye.

  “nothingsolid.butithinkweayhaveadeaistakeaboutthechainofevents.”

  heshowedvangerthephotographandtoldhiwhathewasthinking.vangersatsayingnothingforalongtie.

  “ifi’right,wehavetolookasfaraswestillcanatwhathappenedinhedestadthatday,notjustatwhathappenedonhedebyisland,”blokvistsaid.“idon’tknowhowtogoaboutitaftersuchalongtie,butalotofphotographsusthavebeentakenofthechildren’sdaycelebrationswhichwereneverpublished.thosearetheonesiwanttolookat.”

  vangerusedthetelephoneinthekitchen.hecalledmartin,explainedwhathewanted,andaskedwhothepictureseditorwasthesedays.withinteninutestherightpeoplehadbeenlocatedandaesshadbeenarranged.

  thepictureseditorofthehedestadcourierwasmadeleinebloberg,calledmaja.shewasthefirstwoanpictureseditorblokvisthadetinjournalis,wherephotographywasstillpriarilyaaleartfor.

  sinceitwassaturday,thenewsroowasepty,butmajablobergturnedouttoliveonlyfiveinutesaway,andsheetblokvistattheofficeentrance.shehadworkedatthehedestadcourierforostofherlife.shestartedasaproof-readerin1964,change. comhoto-finisherandspentanuberofyearsinthedarkroo,whileoasionallybeingsentoutasaphotographerwhentheusualresourceswereinsufficient.shehadgainedthepositionofeditor,earnedafull-tiepostonthepicturedesk,andtenyearsago,whentheoldpictureseditorretired,shetookoverasheadofthedepartent.

  blokvistaskedhowthepicturearchivewasarranged.

  “totellyouthetruth,thearchiveisratheraess.sincewegotputersanddigitalphotographs,thecurrentarchiveisoncds.we’vehadaninternherewhospentsoetiescanninginiportantolderpictures,butonlyasallpercentageofwhat’sinthestackshavebeencatalogued.olderpicturesarearrangedbydateinnegativefolders.they’reeitherhereinthenewsrooorintheatticstoreroo.”

  “i’interestedinphotographstakenofthechildren’sdayparadein1966,butalsoinanyphotographsthatweretakenthatweek.”

  fr？kenbloberggavehiaquizzicallook.

  “youeantheweekthatharrietvangerdisappeared？”

  “youknowthestory？”

  “youcouldn’tworkatthecourieryourwholelifewithoutknowingaboutit,andwhenmartinvangercallseearlyintheorningonydayoff,idrawyownconclusions.hassoethingnewturnedup？”

  bloberghadanosefornews.blokvistshookhisheadwithalittlesileandgaveherhiscoverstory.

  “no,andidon’tsupposeanyonewilleverfindthesolutiontothatpuzzle.it’sratherconfidential,butthefactisthati’ghostwritinghenrikvanger’sautobiography.thestoryoftheissinggirlisanod. comic,butit’salsoachapterthatcan’treallybeignored.i’lookingforsoethingt

  11

  hathasn’tbeenusedbeforethatightillustratethatday—ofharrietandherfriends.”