blokvistrestrainedtheurgetolaugh.thiswasnoplaceforlaughter,inthecorridoroutsidevanger’ssickbed,whichightalsoturnouttobehisdeathbed.buthethoughtofaversefrolennarthyland’srhyingalphabet.itwastheletterm.andallaloheoosehestood,laughinginashot-upwood.

  inthehospitallobbyheranintoceciliavanger.hehadtriedcallingherobileadozentiessinceshecaebackfroherinterruptedholiday,butshehadneveransweredorreturnedhiscalls.andshewasneverhoeatherplaceonhedebyislandwheneverhewalkedpastandknockedonthedoor.

  “hi,cecilia,”hesaid.“i’sosorryaboutallthiswithhenrik.”

  “thanks,”shesaid.

  “weneedtotalk.”

  “i’sorrythati’veshutyououtlikethis.icanunderstandthatyouustbecross,buti’nothavinganeasytieofitthesedays.”

  mikaelputhishandonherarandsiledather.

  “wait,you’vegotitwrong,cecilia.i’notcrossatall.iastillhopingthatwecanbefriends.canwehaveacupofcoffee？”henoddedinthedirectionofthehospitalcafeteria.

  ceciliavangerhesitated.“nottoday.ineedtogoandseehenrik.”

  “ok,butistillneedtotalktoyou.it’spurelyprofessional.”

  “whatdoesthatean？”shewassuddenlyalert.

  “doyoureeberthefirsttieweet,whenyoucaetothecottageinjanuary？isaidthatweweretalkingofftherecord,andthatifineededtoaskyouanyrealquestions,iwouldtellyou.ithastodowithharriet.”

  ceciliavanger’sfacewassuddenlyflushedwithanger.

  “youreallyarethefuckingpits.”

  “cecilia,i’vefoundsoethingsthatireallydohavetotalktoyouabout.”

  shetookastepawayfrohi.

  “don’tyourealisethatthisbloodyhuntforthatcursedharrietisjustoupationaltherapyforhenrik？don’tyouseethatheightbeuptheredying,andthattheverylastthingheneedsistogetupsetagainandbefilledwithfalsehopesand…”

  “itaybeahobbyforhenrik,butthereisnoworeaterialtogoonthananyonehashadtoworkwithinaverylongtie.therearequestionsthatdonowneedtobeanswered.”

  “ifhenrikdies,thatinvestigationisgoingtobeoverawfullydanedfast.thenyou’llbeoutonyourgrubby,snivellinginvestigativebackside,”ceciliasaid,andshewalkedaway.

  everythingwasclosed.hedestadwaspracticallydeserted,andtheinhabitantsseeedtohaveretreatedtotheirmidsuerpolesattheirsuercottages.blokvistadeforthestadshotelterrace,whichwasactuallyopen,andtherehewasabletoordercoffeeandasandwichandreadtheeveningpapers.nothingofiportancewashappeningintheworld.

  heputthepaperdownandthoughtaboutceciliavanger.hehadtoldno-one—apartfrothesalandergirl—thatshewastheonewhohadopenedthewindowinharriet’sroo.hewasafraidthatitwouldakeherasuspect,andthelastthinghewantedtodowashurther.butthequestionwasgoingtohavetobeasked,soonerorlater.

  hesatontheterraceforanhourbeforehedecidedtosetthewholeprobleasideanddevotemidsuerevetosoethingotherthanthevangerfaily.hisobilewassilent.bergerwasawayausingherselfsoewherewithherhusband,andhehadno-ootalkto.

  hewentbacktohedebyislandataround4:00intheafternoonandadeanotherdecision—to. comsoking.hehadbeenworkingoutregularlyeversincehedidhisilitaryservice,bothatthegyandbyrunningalongs？derm？larstrand,buthadfallenoutofthehabitwhentheprobleswithwennerstr？began.itwasatrull？kerprisonthathehadstartingpupingironagain,ostlyastherapy.butsincehisreleasehehadtakenalostnoexercise.itwastietostartagain.heputonhistracksuitandsetoffatalazypacealongtheroadtogottfried’scabin,turnedofftowardsthefortress,andtookaroughercoursecrosscountry.hehaddonenoorienteeringsincehewasintheilitary,buthehadalwaysthoughtitwasorefuntorunthroughawoodedterrainthanonaflattrack.hefollowedthefencearound？sterg？rdenbacktothevillage.hewasachingalloverandoutofbreathbythetiehetookthelaststepsuptotheguesthouse.

  at6:00hetookashower.heboiledsoepotatoesandhadopensandwichesofpickledherringinustardsaucewithchivesandeggonaricketytableoutsidethecottage,facingthebridge.hepouredhiselfashotofaquavitanddrankatoasttohiself.afterthatheopenedacrienovelbyvalmcderidentitledthemeraidssinging.

  ataround7:00frodedroveupandsatheavilyinthechairacrossfrohi.blokvistpouredhiashotofsk？neaquavit.

  “youstirredupsoeratherlivelyeotionstoday,”frodesaid.

  “icouldseethat.”

  “birgerisaconceitedfool.”

  “iknowthat.”

  “butceciliaisnotaconceitedfool,andshe’sfurious.”

  mikaelnodded.

  “shehasinstructedetoseethatyou. compokingaroundinthefaily’saffairs.”

  “isee.andwhatdidyousaytoher？”

  frodelookedathisglassofsk？neanddownedtheliquorinonegulp.

  “myresponsewasthathenrikhasgiveneclearinstructionsaboutwhathewantsyoutodo.aslongashedoesn’tchangethoseinstructions,youwillcontinuetobeeployedunderthetersofyourcontract.iexpectyoutodoyourbesttofulfilyourpartofthecontract.”

  blokvistlookedupatthesky,whereraincloudshadbeguntogather.

  “lookslikeastorisbrewing,”frodesaid.“ifthewindsgettoostrong,i’llhavetobackyouup.”

  “thankyou.”

  theysatinsilenceforawhile.

  “couldihaveanotherdrink？”

  onlyinutesafterfrodehadgonehoe,martinvangerdroveupandparkedhiscarbytheroadinfrontofthecottage.hecaeoverandsaidhello.mikaelwishedhiahappymidsuerandaskedifhe’dlikeadrink.

  “no,it’sbetterifidon’t.i’justheretochangeyclothesandtheni’goingtodrivebacktotowntospendtheeveningwitheva.”

  blokvistwaited.

  “i’vetalkedtocecilia.she’salittletrauatisedjustnow—sheandhenrikhavealwaysbeenclose.ihopeyou’llfiveherifshesaysanything…unpleasant.”

  “i’veryfondofcecilia.”

  “iknowthat.butshecanbedifficult.ijustwantyoutoknowthatshe’sveryuchagainstyourgoingondiggingintoourpast.”

  blokvistsighed.everyoneinhedestadseeedtoknohyvangerhadhiredhi.

  “what’syourfeeling？”

  “thisthingwithharriethasbeenhenrik’sobsessionfordecades.idon’tknow…harrietwasysister,butsoehowitfeelsallsofaraway.dirchsaysthatyouhaveacontractthatonlyhenrikcanbreak,andi’afraidthatinhispresentconditionitwoulddooreharthangood.”

  “soyouwantetocontinue？”

  “haveyouadeanyprogress？”

  “i’sorry,martin,butitwouldbeabreachofthatcontractifitoldyouanythingwithouthenrik’sperission.”

  “iunderstand.”suddenlyhesiled.“henrikisabitofaconspiracyfanatic.butaboveall,idon’twantyoutogethishopesupunnecessarily.”

  “iwon’tdothat.”

  “good…bytheway,tochangethesubject,wenowhaveanothercontracttoconsideraswell.giventhathenrikisillandcan’tintheshortterfulfilhisobligationsonthemillenniuboard,it’syresponsibilitytotakehisplace.”

  mikaelwaited.

  “isupposeweshouldhaveaboardeetingtolookatthesituation.”

  “that’sagoodidea.butasfarasiknow,it’sbeendecidedthatthenextboardeetingwon’tbehelduntilaugust.”

  “iknowthat,butaybeweshouldholditearlier.”

  blokvistsiledpolitely.

  “you’rereallytalkingtothewrongperson.attheoenti’notontheboard.ileftindeceber.youshouldgetintouchwitherikaberger.sheknowsthathenrikhasbeentakenill.”

  martinvangerhadnotexpectedthisresponse.

  “you’reright,ofcourse.i’lltalktoher.”hepattedblokvistontheshouldertosaygoodbyeandwasgone.

  nothingconcretehadbeensaid,butthethreathungintheair.martinvangerhadsetmillenniuonthebalancetray.afteraoentblokvistpouredhiselfanotherdrinkandpickeduphisvalmcderid.

  theottledbrowncatcaetosayhelloandrubbedonhisleg.heliftedherupandscratchedbehindherears.

  “thetwoofusarehavingaveryboringmidsuereve,aren’twe？”hesaid.

  whenitstartedtorain,hewentinsideandwenttobed.thecatpreferredtostayoutdoors.

  salandergotoutherkawasakionmidsuereveandspentthedaygivingitagoodoverhaul.alightweight125ightnotbethetoughestbikeintheworld,butitwashers,andshecouldhandleit.shehadrestoredit,onenutatatie,andshehadsoupeditupjustabitoverthelegalliit.

  intheafternoonsheputonherheletandleathersuitanddroveto？ppelvikennursinghoe,whereshespenttheeveningintheparkwithherother.shefeltapangofconcernandguilt.herotherseeedorereotethaneverbefore.duringthreehourstheyexchangedonlyafeords,andwhentheydidspeak,herotherdidnotseetoknohoshewastalkingto.

  blokvistwastedseveraldaystryingtoidentifythecarwiththeacplates.afteralotoftroubleandfinallybyconsultingaretiredechanicinhedestad,hecaetotheconclusionthatthecarwasafordanglia,aodelthathehadneverheardofbefore.thenhecontactedaclerkattheotorvehicledepartentandenquiredaboutthepossibilityofgettingalistofallthefordangliasin1966thathadalicenceplatebeginningac3.hewaseventuallytoldthatsuchanarchaeologicalexcavationintherecordspresuablycouldbedone,butthatitwouldtaketieanditwasbeyondtheboundariesofwhatcouldbeconsideredpublicration.

  notuntilseveraldaysaftermidsuerdidblokvistgetintohisborrowedvolvoanddrivenorthonthee4.hedroveataleisurelypace.justshortoftheh？rn？sandbridgehe. compedtohavecoffeeatthevesterlundpastryshop.

  thenext. comwasue？,wherehepulledintoaninnandhadthedailyspecial.heboughtaroadatlasandcontinuedontoskellefte？,whereheturnedtowardsnorsj？.hearrivedaround6:00intheeveningandtookaroointhehotelnorsj？.

  hebeganhissearchearlythenextorning.thenorsj？carpentryshopwasnotinthetelephone.thepolarhoteldeskclerk,agirlinhertwenties,hadneverheardofthebusiness.

  “whoshouldiask？”

  theclerklookedpuzzledforafewsecondsuntilherfacelitupandshesaidthatshewouldcallherfather.twoinuteslatershecaebackandexplainedthatthenorsj？carpentryshopclosedintheearlyeighties.ifheneededtotalktosoeonewhokneworeaboutthebusiness,heshouldgoandseeacertainburan,whohadbeentheforeanandwhonowlivedonastreetcalledsolv？ndan.

  norsj？wasasalltownwithoneainstreet,appropriatelyenoughcalledstatan,thatranthroughthewholeunity.itwaslinedwithshopswithresidentialsidestreetsoffit.attheeastendtherewasasallindustrialareaandastable；atthewesternendstoodanunonlybeautifulwoodenchurch.blokvistnotedthatthevillagealsohadamissionarychurchandapentecostalchurch.aposteronabulletinboardatthebusstationadvertisedahuntinguseuandaskiinguseu.aleftoverflyerannouncedthatveronikawouldsingatthefair-groundsatmidsuer.hecouldwalkfrooneendofthevillagetotheotherinlessthantwentyinutes.

  thestreetcalledsolv？ndanconsistedofsingle-failyhoesandwasaboutfiveinutesfrothehotel.therewasnoanswerwhenblokvistrangthebell.itwas9:30,andheassuedthatburanhadleftforworkor,ifhewasretired,wasoutonanerrand.

  hisnext. comwasthehardwarestoreonstatan.hereasonedthatanyonelivinginnorsj？wouldsoonerorlaterpayavisittothehardwarestore.thereweretwosalesclerksintheshop.blokvistchosetheolderone,aybefiftyorso.

  “hi.i’lookingforacouplewhoprobablylivedinnorsj？inthesixties.theanighthaveworkedforthenorsj？carpentryshop.idon’tknowtheirnae,butihavetwopicturesthatweretakenin1966.”

  theclerkstudiedthephotographsforalongtiebutfinallyshookhishead,sayinghecouldnotrecogniseeithertheanorthewoan.

  atlunchtiehehadaburgeratahot-dogstandnearthebusstation.hehadgivenupontheshopsandhadadehiswaythroughtheunicipaloffice,thelibrary,andthepharacy.thepolicestationwasepty,andhehadstartedapproachingolderpeopleatrando.earlyintheafternoonheaskedtwoyoungwoen:theydidnotrecognisethecoupleinthephotographs,buttheydidhaveagoodidea.

  “ifthepicturesweretakenin1966,thepeoplewouldhavetobeintheirsixtiestoday.whydon’tyougoovertotheretireenthoeonsolbackaandaskthere？”

  blokvistintroducedhiselftoawoanatthefrontdeskoftheretireenthoe,explainingwhathewantedtoknow.sheglaredathisuspiciouslybutfinallyallowedherselftobepersuaded.sheledhitothedayroo,wherehespenthalfanhourshowingthepicturestoagroupofelderlypeople.theywereveryhelpful,butnoneofthecouldidentifythecouple.

  at5:00hewentbacktosolv？ndanandknockedonburan’sdoor.thistiehehadbetterluck.theburans,boththeanandthewife,wereretired,andtheyhadbeenoutallday.theyinvitedblokvistintotheirkitchen,wherehiswifeproptlyadecoffeewhilemikaelexplainedhiserrand.aswithallhisotheratteptsthatday,heagaindrewablank.buranscratchedhishead,litapipe,andthenconcludedafteraoentthathedidnotrecognisethecoupleinthephotographs.theburansspokeinadistinctnorsj？dialecttoeachother,andblokvistoasionallyhaddifficultyunderstandingwhattheyweresaying.thewifeeant“curlyhair”whensherearkedthatthewoaninthepicturehadkn？velh？ra.

  “butyou’requiterightthatit’sastickerfrothecarpentryshop,”herhusbandsaid.“thatwascleverofyoutorecogniseit.buttheproblewasthatwehandedoutthosestickersleftandright.tocontractors,peoplewhoboughtordeliveredtiber,joiners,achinists,allsorts.”

  “it’sturningouttobehardertofindthiscouplethanithought.”

  “whydoyouwanttofindthe？”

  blokvisthaddecidedtotellthetruthifanyoneaskedhi.anyattepttoakeupastoryaboutthecoupleinthepictureswouldjustsoundfalseandcreateconfusion.

  “it’salongstory.i’investigatingacriethatourredinhedestadin1966,andithinkthere’sapossibility,althoughaverysallone,thatthepeopleinthephotographsighthaveseenwhathappened.they’renotinanywayundersuspicion,andidon’tthinkthey’reevenawarethattheyighthaverationthatcouldsolvethecrie.”

  “acrie？whatkindofcrie？”

  “i’sorry,butican’ttellyouanyorethanthat.iknowitsoundsarrethatsoeonewouldeherealostfortyyearslater,tryingtofindthiscouple,butthecrieisstillunsolved,andit’sonlylatelythatnewfactshaveetolight.”

  “isee.yes,thisiscertainlyanunusualassignentthatyou’reon.”

  “howanypeopleworkedatthecarpentryshop？”

  “thenoralworkforcewasfortyorso.iworkedtherefrotheageofseventeenintheid-fiftiesuntiltheshopclosed.thenibecaeacontractor.”buranthoughtforaoent.“thisuchicantellyou.theguyinyourpicturesneverworkedthere.heighthavebeenacontractor,butithinki’drecognisehiifhewas.butthereisoneotherpossibility.maybehisfatherorsoeotherrelativeworkedattheshopandthat’snothiscar.”

  mikaelnodded.“irealisetherearelotsofpossibilities.canyousuggestanyoneicouldtalkto？”

  “yes,”saidburan,nodding.“ebytoorroworningandwe’llgoandhaveatalkwithsoeoftheoldguys.”

  salanderwasfacingaethodologyprobleofsoesignificance.shewasanexpertatdigginguprationonjustaboutanybody,butherstartingpointhadalwaysbeenanaeandasocialsecuritynuberforalivingperson.iftheindividualwaslistedinaputerfile,whicheveryoneinevitablywas,thenthesubjectquicklylandedinherspider’sweb.iftheindividualownedaputerwithaninterconnection,aneailaddress,andaybeevenapersonalwebsite,whichnearlyeveryonedidwhocaeunderherspecialtypeofresearch,shecouldsoonerorlaterfindouttheirinnerostsecrets.

  theworkshehadagreedtodoforblokvistwasaltogetherdifferent.thisassignent,insipleters,wastoidentifyfoursocialsecuritynubersbasedonextreelyvaguedata.inaddition,theseindividualsostlikelydiedseveraldecadesago.soprobablytheywouldnotbeonanyputerfiles.

  blokvist’stheory,basedontherebeckajacobssoncase,wasthattheseindividualshadfallenvictitoaurderer.thiseantthattheyshouldbefoundinvariousunsolvedpoliceinvestigations.therewasnoclueastowhenorwheretheseurdershadtakenplace,exceptthatithadtobebefore1966.intersofresearch,shewasfacingawholenewsituation.

  so,howdoigoaboutthis？

  shepulledupthegooglesearchengine,andtypedinthekeywords.thatwasthesiplestforofresearchshecoulddo.tohersurprise,sheadeaninstantbreakthroughintheinvestigation.herfirsthitwastheprograelistingsfortvv？rlandinkarlstad,advertisingasegentintheseries“v？rlandmurders”thatwasbroadcastin1999.afterthatshefoundabriefentioninatvlistinginv？rlandsfolkblad.

  intheseries“v？rlandmurders”thefocusnowturnstomagdalovisasj？berginranotr？sk,agruesoeurderysterythatoupiedthekarlstadpolicesev