“iwon’tbegoingbacktomillenniu’seditorialboardbeforei’finishedwiththeassignentthathenrikgavee.i’ringyouofthisnowsothatyouwon’tcountonebeingontheboardbeforenewyear’s.”

  martinvangerteeteredbackandforthforabit.

  “isee.youthinkiwanttogetridofyou.”hepaused.“mikael,we’llhavetotalkaboutthislater.idon’treallyhavetietodevotetoyhobbyonmillenniu’sboard,andiwishi’dneveragreedtohenrik’sproposal.butbelievee—i’goingtodoybesttoakesurethatmillenniusurvives.”

  “i’veneverhadanydoubtaboutthat,”blokvistsaid.

  “ifweakeanappointentforsoetienextweekwecangooverthefinancesandicangiveyouyviewsontheatter.butybasicattitudeisthatmillenniucannotactuallyaffordtohaveoneofitskeypeoplesittinguphereonhedebyislandtwiddlinghisthubs.iliketheagazineandithinkwecanakeitstrongertogether,butyou’recrucialtothattask.i’vewoundupinaconflictofloyaltieshere.eitherifollowhenrik’swishesorcarryoutyjobonmillenniu’sboard.”

  blokvistchangedintohistracksuitandwentforarunouttothefortressanddowntogottfried’scabinbeforeheheadedhoeataslowerpacealongthewater.frodewassittingatthegardentable.hewaitedpatientlyasmikaeldrankabottleofwaterandtowelledthesweatfrohisface.

  “thatdoesn’tlooksohealthyinthisheat.”

  “oh,eon,”blokvistsaid.

  “iwaswrong.ceciliaisn’ttheainpersonwho’saftermartin.it’sisabella.she’sbusyobilisingthevangerclantotarandfeatheryouandpossiblyburnyouatthestaketoo.she’sbeingbackedupbybirger.”

  “isabella？”

  “she’saalicious,pettywoanwhodoesn’tlikeotherpeopleingeneral.rightnowitseesthatshedetestsyouinparticular.she’sspreadingstoriesthatyou’reaswindlerwhodupedhenrikintohiringyou,andthatyougothisoworkedupthathehadaheartattack.”

  “ihopeno-onebelievesthat？”

  “there’salwayssoeonewillingtobelievealiciousruours.”

  “i’tryingtoworkoutwhathappenedtoherdaughter—andshehatese.ifharrietwereydaughter,iwouldhavereactedabitdifferently.”

  at2:00intheafternoon,hisobilerang.

  “hello,ynaeisconnytorssonandiworkatthehedestadcourier.doyouhavetietoanswerafewquestions？wegotatipthatyou’relivinghereinhedeby.”

  “well,herrtorsson,yourtipachineisalittleslow.i’vebeenlivingheresincethefirstoftheyear.”

  “ididn’tknowthat.whatareyoudoinginhedestad？”

  “writing.andtakingasortofsabbatical.”

  “whatareyouworkingon？”

  “you’llfindoutwhenipublishit.”

  “youwerejustreleasedfroprison…”

  “yes？”

  “doyouhaveaviewonjournalistswhofalsifyaterial？”

  “journalistswhofalsifyaterialareidiots.”

  “soinyouropinionyou’reanidiot？”

  “whyshouldithinkthat？i’veneverfalsifiedaterial.”

  “butyouwereconvictedoflibel.”

  “so？”

  torssonhesitatedlongenoughthatblokvisthadtogivehiapush.

  “iwasconvictedoflibel,notoffalsifyingaterial.”

  “butyoupublishedtheaterial.”

  “ifyou’recallingtodiscussthejudgeentagainste,ihavenoent.”

  “i’dliketoeoutanddoanintervieithyou.”

  “ihavenothingtosaytoyouonthi. comic.”

  “soyoudon’twanttodiscussthetrial？”

  “that’scorrect,”hesaid,andhungup.hesatthinkingforalongtiebeforehewentbacktohisputer.

  salanderfollowedtheinstructionsshehadreceivedanddroveherkawasakiacrossthebridgetohedebyisland.she. compedatthefirstlittlehouseontheleft.shewasreallyoutinthesticks.butaslongashereployerwaspaying,shedidnotindifshewenttothenorthpole.besides,itwasgreattogiveherbikeitsheadonalongrideupthee4.sheputthebikeonitsstandandloosenedthestrapthatheldherovernightduffelbaginplace.

  blokvi. comenedthedoorandwavedtoher.hecaeoutandinspectedherotorcyclewithobviousastonishent.

  hewhistled.“you’reridingaotorbike！”

  salandersaidnothing,butshewatchedhiintentlyashetouchedthehandlebarsandtriedtheaelerator.shedidnotlikeanyoouchingherstuff.thenshesawhischildlike,boyishsile,whichshetookforaredeeingfeature.mostpeoplewhowereintootorcyclesusuallylaughedatherlightweightbike.

  “ihadaotorbikewheniwasnieen,”hesaid,turningtoher.“thanksforingup.einandlet’sgetyousettled.”

  hehadborrowedacapbedfrothenilssons.salandertookatouraroundthecabin,lookingsuspicious,butsheseeedtorelaxwhenshecouldfindnoiediatesignsofanyinsidioustrap.heshowedherwherethebathroowas.

  “incaseyouwanttotakeashowerandfreshenup.”

  “ihavetochange.ianotgoingtowanderaroundinyleathers.”

  “ok,whileyouchangei’llakedinner.”

  hesautéedlabchopsinredwinesauceandsetthetableoutdoorsintheafternoonsunwhilesalandershoweredandchanged.shecaeoutbarefootwearingablackcaisoleandashort,worndeniskirt.thefoodselledgood,andsheputawaytwostouthelpings.fascinated,blokvistsneakedalookatthetattoosonherback.

  “fiveplusthree,”salandersaid.“fivecasesfroyourharriet’slistandthreecasesthatithinkshouldhavebeenonthelist.”

  “telle.”

  “i’veonlybeenonthisforelevendays,andihaven’thadachancetodigupallthereports.insoecasesthepolicereportshadbeenputinthenationalarchive,andinothersthey’restillstoredinthelocalpolicedistrict.iadethreedaytripstodifferentpolicedistricts,butididn’thavetietogettoallofthe.thefiveareidentified.”

  salanderputasolidheapofpaperonthekitchentable,around500pages.shequicklysortedtheaterialintodifferentstacks.

  “let’staketheinchronologicalorder.”shehandedblokvistalist.

  1949—rebeckajacobsson,hedestad

  1954—mariholmberg,kalar

  1957—rakellunde,landskrona

  1960—

  1960—livgustavsson,stockhol

  1962—leapersson,uddevalla

  1964—sarawitt,ronneby

  1966—lenaandersson,uppsala

  “thefirstcaseinthisseriesisrebeckajacobsson,1949,thedetailsofwhichyoualreadyknow.thenextcaseifoundwasmariholberg,athirty-two-year-oldprostituteinkalarwhowasurderedinherapartentinoctober1954.it’snotclearexactlywhenshewaskilled,sinceherbodywasn’tfoundrightaway,probablynineortendayslater.”

  “andhowdoyouconnecthertoharriet’slist？”

  “shewastiedupandbadlyabused,butthecauseofdeathwasstrangulation.shehadasanitarytoweldownherthroat.”

  blokvistsatinsilenceforaoentbeforehelookeduptheversethatwasleviticus20:18.

  “ifaanlieswithawoanhavinghersickness,anduncovershernakedness,hehasadenakedherfountain,andshehasuncoveredthefountainofherblood；bothoftheshallbecutofffroaongtheirpeople.”

  salandernodded.

  “harrietvangeradethesaeconnection.ok.next？”

  “may1957,rakellunde,forty-five.sheworkedasacleaningwoanandwasabitofahappyeentricinthevillage.shewasafortune-tellerandherhobbywasdoingtarotreadings,pals,etcetera.shelivedoutsidelandskronainahousealongwayfroanywhere,andshewasurderedtheresoetieearlyintheorning.shewasfoundnakedandtiedtoalaundry-dryingfraeinherbackgarden,withherouthtapedshut.causeofdeathwasaheavyrockbeingrepeatedlythrownather.shehadcountlesscontusionsandfractures.”

  “jesuschrist.lisbeth,thisisfuckingdisgusting.”

  “itgetsworse.theinitialsr.l.arecorrect—youfoundthebiblequote？”

  “overlyexplicit.aanorawoanwhoisaediuorawizardshallbeputtodeath；theyshallbestonedwithstones,theirbloodshallbeuponthe.”

  “thenthere’ssj？berginranooutsidekarlstad.she’stheoneharrietlistedasmagda.herfullnaewasmagdalovisa,butpeoplecalledherlovisa.”

  blokvistlistenedwhilesalanderrecountedthearredetailsofthekarlstadurder.whenshelitacigarettehepointedatthepack,andshepusheditovertohi.

  “sothekillerattackedtheanialtoo？”

  “theleviticusversesaysthatifawoanhassexwithananial,bothustbekilled.”

  “thelikelihoodofthiswoanhavingsexwithacowustbe…well,non-existent.”

  “theversecanbereadliterally.it’senoughthatshe‘approaches’theanial,whichafarer’swifewouldundeniablydoeveryday.”

  “understood.”

  “thenextcaseonharriet’slistissara.i’veidentifiedherassarawitt,thirty-seven,livinginronneby.shewasurderedinjanuary1964,foundtiedtoherbed,subjectedtoaggravatedsexualassault,butthecauseofdeathwasasphyxiation；shewasstrangled.thekilleralsostartedafire,withtheprobableintentionofburningthewholehousedowntotheground,butpartofthefirewentoutbyitself,andtherestwastakencareofbythefireservice,whowerethereinaveryshorttie.”

  “andtheconnection？”

  “listentothis.sarawittwasboththedaughterofapastorandarriedtoapastor.herhusbandwasawaythatweekend.”

  “andthedaughterofanypriest,ifsheprofanesherselfbyplayingtheharlot,profanesherfather；sheshallbeburnedwithfire.ok.thatfitsonthelist.yousaidyou’dfoundorecases.”

  “i’vefoundthreeotherwoenwhowereurderedundersuchsiilarlystrangecircustancesandtheycouldhavebeenonharriet’slist.thefirstisayoungwoannaedlivgustavsson.shewastwenty-twoandlivedinfarsta.shewasahorse-lovinggirl—sherodeinpetitionsandwasquiteaproisingtalent.shealsoownedasallpetshopwithhersister.shewasfoundintheshop.shehadworkedlateonthekeepingandwastherealone.sheusthaveletthekillerinvoluntarily.shewasrapedandstrangledtodeath.”

  “thatdoesn’tsoundquitelikeharriet’slist,doesit？”

  “notexactly,ifitweren’tforohing.thekillerconcludedhisbarbaritiesbyshovingaparakeetuphervaginaandthenletalltheanialsoutintotheshop.cats,turtles,whiteice,rabbits,birds.eventhefishintheaquariu.soitwasquiteanappallingscenehersisterencounteredintheorning.”

  blokvistadeanote.

  “shewasurderedinaugust1960,fouronthsaftertheurderofthefarer’swifemagdalovisainkarlstad.inbothinstancestheywerewoenwhoworkedprofessionallywithanials,andinbothcasestherewasananialsacrifice.thecowinkarlstadayhavesurvived—buticaniagineitwouldbedifficulttostabacowtodeathwithaknife.aparakeetisorestraightforward.andbesides,therewasanadditionalanialsacrifice.”

  “what？”

  salandertoldthestoryofthe“pigeonurder”ofleapersson.blokvistsatforsolonginsilenceandinthoughtthatevensalandergrewipatient.

  “i’llbuyyourtheory,”hesaidatlast.“there’sonecaseleft.”

  “acasethatidiscoveredbychance.idon’tknowhowanyiayhaveissed.”

  “telleaboutit.”

  “february1966inuppsala.thevictiwasaseventeen-year-oldgynastcalledlenaandersson.shedisappearedafteraclasspartyandwasfoundthreedayslaterinaditchontheuppsalaplain,quiteawayoutoftown.shehadbeenurderedsoewhereelseandherbodydupedthere.thisurdergotalotofattentionintheedia,butthetruecircustancessurroundingherdeathwereneverreported.thegirlhadbeengrotesquelytortured.ireadthepathologist’sreport.shewastorturedwithfire.herhandsandbreastswereatrociouslyburned,andshehadbeenburnedrepeatedlyatvariousspotsalloverherbody.theyfoundparaffinstainsonher,whichshowedthatcandleshadbeenused,butherhandsweresocharredthattheyusthavebeenheldoveraorepowerfulfire.finally,thekillersawedoffherheadandtosseditnexttothebody.”

  blokvistblanched.“goodlord,”hesaid.

  “ican’tfindanybiblequotethatfits,butthereareseveralpassagesthatdealwithafireofferingandasinoffering,andinsoeplacesit’sreendedthatthesacrificialanial—ostoftenabull—becutupinsuchawaythattheheadisseveredfrothefat.firealsoreindseofthefirsturder,ofrebeckahereinhedestad.”

  towardseveningwhentheosquitoesbegantoswartheyclearedoffthegardentableandovedtothekitchentogoonwiththeirtalk.

  “thefactthatyoudidn’tfindanexactbiblequotationdoesn’teanuch.it’snotaatterofquotations.thisisagrotesqueparodyofwhatiswritteninthebible—it’sorelikeassociationstoquotationspulledoutofcontext.”

  “iagree.itisn’tevenlogical.takeforexaplethequotethatbothhavetobecutofffrotheirpeopleifsoeonehassexwithagirlwho’shavingherperiod.ifthat’sinterpretedliterally,thekillershouldhaveittedsuicide.”

  “sowheredoesallthislead？”blokvistwonderedaloud.

  “yourharrieteitherhadquiteastrangehobbyorelsesheusthaveknownthattherewasaconnectionbetweentheurders.”

  “between1949and1966,andaybebeforeandafteraswell.theideathataninsanelysicksadisticserialkillerwasslaughteringwoenforatleastseventeenyearswithoutanyoneseeingaconnectionsoundsutterlyunbelievabletoe.”

  salanderpushedbackherchairandpouredorecoffeefrothepotonthestove.shelitacigarette.mikaelcursedhiselfandstoleanotherfroher.

  “no,it’snotsounbelievable,”shesaid,holdinguponefinger.“wehaveseveraldozenunsolvedurdersofwoeninswedenduringthetwentiethcentury.thatprofessorofcriinology,persson,saidonceontvthatserialkillersareveryrareinsweden,butthatprobablywehavehadsoethatwerenevercaught.”

  sheheldupanotherfinger.

  “theseurderswereittedoveraverylongperiodoftieandalloverthecountry.twoourredclosetogetherin1960,butthecircustanceswerequitedifferent—afarer’swifeinkarlstadandatwenty-two-year-oldinstockhol.”

  threefingers.

  “thereisnoiediatelyapparentpattern.theurderswerecarriedoutatdifferentplacesandthereisnorealsignature,buttherearecertainthingsthatdorecur.anials.fire.aggravatedsexualassault.and,asyoupointedout,aparodyofbiblicalquotations.butitseesthatnotoneoftheinvestigatingdetectivesinterpretedanyoftheurdersintersofthebible.”

  blokvistwaswatchingher.withherslenderbody,herblackcaisole,thetattoos,andtheringspiercingherface,salanderlookedoutofplace,tosaytheleast,inaguestcottageinhedeby.whenhetriedtobesociableoverdinner,shewastaciturntothepointofrudeness.butwhenshewasworkingshesoundedlikeaprofessionaltoherfingertips.herapartentinstockholightlookasifabobhadgoneoffinit,butentallysalanderwasextreelywellanised.

  “it’shardtoseetheconnectionbetweenaprostituteinuddevallawho’skilledinanindustrialyardandapastor’swifewhoisstrangledinronnebyandhasherhousesetonfire.ifyoudon’thavethekeythatharrietgaveus,thatis.”

  “whichleadstothenextquestion,”salandersaid.

  “howonearthdidharrietgetixedupinallthis？asixteen-year-oldgirlwholivedinareallyshelteredenvironent.”

  “there’sonlyoneanswer,”salandersaid.“thereustbesoeconnectiontothevangerfaily.”

  by11:00thatnighttheyhadgoneovertheseriesofurdersanddiscussedtheconceivableconnectionsandthetinydetailsofsiilarityanddifferencesooftenthatblokvist’sheadwasspinning.herubbedhiseyesandstretchedandaskedsalanderifshefeltlikeawalk.herexpressionsuggestedthatshethoughtsuchpracticeswereawasteoftie,butsheagreed.blokvistadvisedhertochangeintolongtrousersbecauseoftheosquitoes.

  theystrolledpastthesall-boatharbourandthenunderthebridgeandouttowardsmartinvanger’spoint.blokvistpointedoutthevarioushousesandtoldheraboutthepeoplewholivedinthe.hehadsoedifficultywhentheycaetoceciliavanger’shouse.salandergavehiacuriouslook.

  theypassedmartinvanger’sotoryachtandreachedthepoint,andtheretheysatonarockandsharedacigarette.

  “there’soneoreconnection,”blokvistsaidsuddenly.“maybeyou’vealreadythoughtofit.”

  “what？”

  “theirnaes.”

  salanderthoughtforaoentandshookherhead.

  “they’reallbiblicalnaes.”

  “nottrue,”shesaid.“whereistherealivorlenainthebible？”

  “theyarethere.liveanstolive,inotherwordseva.andeon—what’slenashortfor？”

  salandergriacedinannoyance.hehadbeenquickerthanshewas.shedidnotlikethat.

  “magdalena,”shesaid.

  “thewhore,thefirstwoan,thevirginmary…they’reallthereinthisgroup.thisissofreakyit’dakeapsychologist’sheadspin.butthere’ssoethingelseithoughtofwithregardtothenaes.”

  salanderwaitedpatiently.

  “they’reobviouslyalltraditionaljewishnaes.thevangerfailyhashadorethanitsshareoffanaticalanti-seites,nazis,andconspiracytheorists.theonlytieietharaldvangerhewasstandingintheroadsnarlingthathisowndaughterwasawhore.hecertainlyhasprobleswithwoen.”

  whentheygotbacktothecabintheyadeaidnight