hepausedirresolutelyoutsidemartinvanger’shouse,tookouthisobile,andpunchedinsalander’snuber.stillnoanswer.heturnedoffhisobilesothatitwouldnotstartringing.

  therewerelightsondownstairs.blokvistwalkedacrossthelawnand. compedafewyardsfrothekitchenwindow,buthecouldseeno-one.hecontinuedonaroundthehouse,pausingateachwindow,buttherewasnosignofmartin.ontheotherhand,hediddiscoverthatthesallsidedoorintothegaragewasslightlyopen.don’tbeadanfool.buthecouldnotresisttheteptationtolook.

  thefirstthinghesawonthecarpenter’sbenchwasanopenboxofaunitionforaooserifle.thenhesawtwogasolinecansonthefloorunderthebench.preparationsforanothernocturnalvisit,martin？

  “ein,mikael.isawyouontheroad.”

  blokvist’sheartskippedabeat.slowlyheturnedhisheadandsawmartinvangerstandinginthedarkbyadoorleadingintothehouse.

  “yousiplycouldn’tstayaway,couldyou？”

  hisvoicewascal,alostfriendly.

  “hi,martin,”blokvistsaid.

  “ein,”martinrepeated.“thisway.”

  hetookastepforwardandtotheside,holdingouthislefthandinaninvitinggesture.heraisedhisrighthand,andblokvistsawthereflectionofdulletal.

  “ihaveaglockinyhand.don’tdoanythingstupid.atthisdistanceiwon’tiss.”

  blokvistslowlyovedcloser.whenhereachedmartin,he. compedandlookedhiintheeye.

  “ihadtoehere.therearesoanyquestions.”

  “iunderstand.throughthedoor.”

  blokvistenteredthehouse.thepassageledtothehallnearthekitchen,butbeforehegotthatfar,martinvanger. compedhibyputtingahandlightlyonblokvist’sshoulder.

  “no,notthatway.toyourright.openthedoor.”

  thebaseent.whenblokvistwashalfwaydownthesteps,martinvangerturnedaswitchandthelightswenton.totherightofhiwastheboilerroo.aheadhecouldsellthescentsoflaundry.martinguidedhitotheleft,intoastorageroowitholdfurnitureandboxes,atthebackofwhichwasasteelsecuritydoorwithadeadboltlock.

  “here,”martinsaid,tossingakeyringtoblokvist.“openit.”

  heopenedthedoor.

  “theswitchisontheleft.”

  blokvisthadopenedthedoortohell.

  around9:00salanderwenttogetsoecoffeeandaplastic-wrappedsandwichfrothevendingachineinthecorridoroutsidethearchives.shekeptonpagingthrougholddocuents,lookingforanytraceofgottfriedvangerinkalarin1954.shefoundnothing.

  shethoughtaboutcallingblokvist,butdecidedtogothroughthestaffnewslettersbeforeshecalleditaday.

  thespacewasapproxiatelytenbytwentyfeet.blokvistassuedthatitwassituatedalongthenorthsideofthehouse.

  martinvangerhadcontrivedhisprivatetorturechaberwithgreatcare.ontheleftwerechains,etaleyeletsintheceilingandfloor,atablewithleatherstrapswherehecouldrestrainhisvictis.andthenthevideoequipent.atapingstudio.inthebackoftheroowasasteelcageforhisguests.totherightofthedoorwasabench,abed,andatvcornerwithvideosonashelf.

  assoonastheyenteredtheroo,martinvangeraiedthepistolatblokvistandtoldhitolieonhisstoachonthefloor.blokvistrefused.

  “verywell,”martinsaid.“theni’llshootyouinthekneecap.”

  hetookai.blokvistcapitulated.hehadnochoice.

  hehadhopedthatmartinwouldrelaxhisguardjustatenthofasecond—heknewhewouldwinanysortoffightwithhi.hehadhadhalfachanceinthepassageupstairswhenmartinputhishandonhisshoulder,buthehadhesitated.afterthatmartinhadnoteclose.withabulletinhiskneecaphewouldhavelosthischance.helaydownonthefloor.

  martinapproachedfrobehindandtoldh. comuthishandsonhisback.hehandcuffedhi.thenhekickedmikaelinthecrotchandpunchedhiviciouslyandrepeatedly.

  whathappenedafterthatseeedlikeanightare.martinswungbetweenrationalityandpurelunacy.foratiequitecal,thenextinstanthewouldbepacingbackandforthlikeananialinacage.hekickedblokvistseveralties.allblokvistcoulddowastr. comrotecthisheadandtaketheblowsinthesoftpartsofhisbody.

  forthefirsthalfhourmartindidnotsayaword,andheappearedtobeincapableofanysortofunication.afterthatheseeedtorecovercontrol.heputachainroundblokvist’sneck,fasteningitwithapadlocktoaetaleyeletonthefloor.heleftblokvistaloneforaboutfifteeninutes.whenhereturned,hewascarryingalitrebottleofwater.hesatonachairandlookedatblokvistashedrank.

  “couldihavesoewater？”blokvistsaid.

  martinleaneddownandlethitakeagoodlongdrinkfrothebottle.blokvistswallowedgreedily.

  “thanks.”

  “stillsopolite,kalleblokvist.”

  “whyallthepunchingandkicking？”blokvistsaid.

  “becauseyouakeeveryangryindeed.youdeservetobepunished.whydidn’tyoujustgohoe？youwereneededatmillenniu.iwasserious—wecouldhaveadeitintoagreatagazine.wecouldhaveworkedtogetherforyears.”

  blokvistgriacedandtriedtoshifthisbodyintoaorefortableposition.hewasdefenceless.allhehadwashisvoice.

  “iassueyoueanthattheopportunityhaspassed,”blokvistsaid.

  martinvangerlaughed.

  “i’sorry,mikael.but,ofcourse,youknowperfectlywellthatyou’regoingtodiedownhere.”

  blokvistnodded.

  “howthehelldidyoufinde,youandthatanorexicspookthatyoudraggedintothis？”

  “youliedaboutwhatyouweredoingonthedaythatharrietdisappeared.youwereinhedestadatthechildren’sdayparade.youwerephotographedthere,lookingatharriet.”

  “wasthatwhyyouwenttonorsj？？”

  “togetthepicture,yes.itwastakenbyahoneyooncouplewhohappenedtobeinhedestad.”

  heshookhishead.

  “that’sacrasslie,”martinsaid.

  blokvistthoughthard:whattosa. comreventorpostponehisexecution.

  “where’sthepicturenow？”

  “thenegative？it’sinasafe-depositboxathandelsbankenhereinhedestad…youdidn’tknowthatihaveasafe-depositbox？”heliedeasily.“therearecopiesinvariousplaces.inyputerandinthegirl’s,ontheserveratmillenniu,andontheserveratmiltonsecurity,wherethegirlworks.”

  martinwaited,tryingtoworkoutwhetherornotblokvistwasbluffing.

  “howuchdoesthegirlknow？”

  blokvisthesitated.salanderwasrightnowhisonlyhopeofrescue.whatwouldshethinkwhenshecaehoeandfoundhinotthere？hehadputthephotographofmartinvangerwearingthepaddedjacketonthekitchentable.wouldsheaketheconnection？wouldshesoundthealar？sheisnotgoingtocallthepolice.thenightarewasthatshewouldetomartinvanger’shouseandringthebell,deandingtoknohereblokvistwas.

  “answere,”martinsaid,hisvoiceice-cold.

  “i’thinking.sheknowsalostasuchasido,aybeevenalittleore.yes,iwouldreckonsheknowsorethanido.she’sbright.she’stheonewhoadethelinktolenaandersson.”

  “lenaandersson？”martinsoundedperplexed.

  “thegirlyoutorturedandkilledinuppsalain1966.don’ttelleyou’vefotten？”

  “idon’tknohatyou’retalkingabout.”butforthefirsttiehesoundedshaken.itwasthefirsttiethatanyonehadadethatconnection—lenaanderssonwasnotincludedinharriet’sdate.

  “martin,”blokvistsaid,akinghisvoiceassteadyashecould.“it’sover.youcankille,butit’sfinished.tooanypeopleknow.”

  martinstartedpacingbackandforthagain.

  ihavetoreeberthathe’sirrational.thecat.hecouldhavebroughtthecatdownhere,buthewenttothefailycrypt.martin. comped.

  “ithinkyou’relying.youandsalanderaretheonlyoneswhoknowanything.youobviouslyhaven’ttalkedtoanyone,orthepolicewouldhavebeenherebynow.anicelittleblazeintheguestcottageandtheproofwillbegone.”

  “andifyou’rewrong？”

  “ifi’wrong,thenitreallyisover.butidon’tthinkitis.i’llbetthatyou’rebluffing.andwhatotherchoicedoihave？i’llgivethatsoethought.it’sthatanorexiclittlecuntwho’stheweaklink.”

  “shewenttostockholatlunchtie.”

  martinlaughed.

  “bluffaway,mikael.shehasbeensittinginthearchivesatthevangercorporationofficesallevening.”

  blokvist’sheartskippedabeat.heknew.he’sknownallalong.

  “that’sright.theplanwastovisitthearchiveandthengotostockhol,”blokvistsaid.“ididn’tknowshestayedtheresolong.”

  “. comallthiscrap,mikael.thearchivesanagerrangtotellethatdirchhadletthegirlstaythereaslateassheliked.whicheansshe’llcertainlybehoe.thenightwatchanisgoingtocallewhensheleaves.”

  part4

  hostiletakeover

  july11todecember30

  niy-twopercentofwoeninswedenwhohavebeensubjectedtosexualassaulthavenotreportedtheostrecentviolentincidenttothepolice.

  chapter24

  friday,july11–saturday,july12

  martinvangerbentdownandwentthroughmikael’spockets.hetookthekey.

  “sartofyoutochangethelock,”hesaid.“i’goingtotakecareofyourgirlfriendwhenshegetsback.”

  blokvistreindedhiselfthatmartinwasanegotiatorexperiencedfroanyindustrialbattles.hehadalreadyseenthroughonebluff.

  “why？”

  “whywhat？”

  “whyallofthis？”blokvistgesturedvaguelyatthespacearoundhi.

  martinbentdownandputonehandunderblokvist’schin,liftinghisheadsotheireyeset.

  “becauseit’ssoeasy,”hesaid.“woendisappearallthetie.nobodyissesthe.iigrants.whoresfrorussia.thousandsofpeoplepassthroughswedeneveryyear.”

  heletgoofblokvist’sheadandstoodup.

  martin’swordshitblokvistlikeapunchintheface.

  christalighty.thisisnohistoricalystery.martinvangerisurderingwoentoday.andiwanderedrightintoit…

  “asithappens,idon’thaveaguestrightnow.butitightauseyoutoknowthatwhileyouandhenriksataroundbabblingthiswinterandspring,therewasagirldownhere.irinafrobelarus.whileyousatandatedinnerwithe,shewaslockedupinthecagedownhere.itwasapleasanteveningasireeber,no？”

  martinperchedonthetable,lettinghislegsdangle.blokvistshuthiseyes.hesuddenlyfeltacidinhisthroatandheswallowedhard.thepaininhisgutandinhisribsseeedtoswell.

  “whatdoyoudowiththebodies？”

  “ihaveyboatatthedockrightbelowhere.itakethealongwayouttosea.unlikeyfather,idon’tleavetraces.buthewassarttoo.hespreadhisvictisoutalloversweden.”

  thepuzzlepieceswerefallingi. comlace.

  gottfriedvanger.fro1949until1965.thenmartinvanger,startingin1966inuppsala.

  “youadireyourfather.”

  “hewastheonewhotaughte.heinitiatedewheniwasfourteen.”

  “uddevalla.leapersson.”

  “aren’tyouclever？yes,iwasthere.ionlywatched,butiwasthere.”

  “1964.sarawittinronneby.”

  “iwassixteen.itwasthefirsttieihadawoan.myfathertaughte.iwastheonewhostrangledher.”

  he’sbragging.goodlord,whatarevoltinglysickfaily.

  “youcan’thaveanynotionofhowdeentedthisis.”

  “youareaveryordinarylittleperson,mikael.youwouldnotbeabletounderstandthegodlikefeelingofhavingabsolutecontroloversoeone’slifeanddeath.”

  “youenjoytorturingandkillingwoen,martin.”

  “idon’tthinksoreally.ifidoanintellectualanalysisofycondition,i’oreofaserialrapistthanaserialurderer.infact,ostofalli’aserialkidnapper.thekillingisanaturalconsequence,sotospeak,becauseihavetohideycrie.

  “ofcourseyactionsaren’tsociallyaeptable,butycrieisfirstandforeostacrieagainsttheconventionsofsociety.deathdoesn’teuntiltheendofyguests’visitshere,afteri’vegrownwearyofthe.it’salwayssofascinatingtoseetheirdisappointent.”

  “disappointent？”

  “exactly.disappointent.theyiagihatiftheypleasee,they’lllive.theyadapttoyrules.theystarttotrusteanddevelopacertaincaaraderiewithe,hopingtotheveryendthatthiscaaraderieeanssoething.thedisappointenteswhenitfinallydawnsonthethatthey’vebeenwellandtrulyscrewed.”

  martinwalkedaroundthetableandleanedagainstthesteelcage.

  “youwithyourbourgeoisconventionswouldnevergraspthis,buttheexciteentesfroplanningakidnapping.they’renotdoneonipulse—thosekindsofkidnappersinvariablygetcaught.it’sasciencewiththousandsofdetailsthatihavetoweigh.ihavetoidentifyyprey,apoutherlife,whoisshe,wheredoessheefro,howcaniakecontactwithher,whatdoihavetodotobealonewithypreywithoutrevealingynaeorhavingitturnupinanyfuturepoliceinvestigation？”

  shutup,forgod’ssake,blokvistthought.

  “areyoureallyinterestedinallthis,mikael？”

  hebentdownandstrokedblokvist’scheek.thetouchwasalosttender.

  “yourealisethatthiscanonlyendoneway？willitbotheryouifisoke？”

  “youcouldoffereacigarette,”hesaid.

  martinlittwocigarettesandcarefullyplacedoneofthebetweenblokvist’slips,lettinghitakealongdrag.

  “thanks,”blokvistsaid,autoatically.

  martinvangerlaughedagain.

  “yousee.you’vealreadystartedtoadapttothesubissionprinciple.iholdyourlifeinyhands,mikael.youknowthaticandispatchyouatanysecond.youpleadedwithetoiproveyourqualityoflife,andyoudidsobyusingreasonandalittlegoodanners.andyouwererewarded.”

  blokvistnodded.hisheartwaspoundingsoharditwasalostunbearable.

  at11:15lisbethsalanderdranktherestofthewaterfroherpetbottleassheturnedthepages.unlikeblokvist,whoearlierinthedayhadchokedonhiscoffee,shedidn’tgetthewaterdownthewrongway.ontheotherhand,shedidopenhereyeswidewhensheadetheconnection.

  click！

  fortwohoursshehadbeenwadingthroughthestaffnewslettersfroallpointsofthepass.theainnewsletterwaspanyration.itborethevangerlogo—aswedishbannerflutteringinthewind,withthepointforinganarrow.thepublicationwaspresuablyputtogetherbythefir’sadvertisingdepartent,anditwasfilledwithpropagandathatwassupposedtoaketheeployeesfeelthattheywereebersofonebigfaily.

  inassociationwiththewintersportsholidayinfebruary1967,henrikvanger,inaagnaniousgesture,hadinvitedfiftyeployeesfrotheainofficeandtheirfailiestoaweek’sskiingholidayinh？rjedalen.thepanyhadaderecordprofitsduringthepreviousyear.theprdepartentwenttooandputtogetherapicturereport.

  manyofthepictureswithausingcaptionswerefrotheslopes.soeshowedgroupsinthebar,withlaughingeployeeshoistingbeerugs.twophotographswereofasallorningfunctionwhenhenrikvangerproclaiedulla-brittmogrentobethebestofficeworkeroftheyear.shewasgivenabonusoffivehundredkronorandaglassbowl.

  thecereonywasheldontheterraceofthehotel,clearlyrightbeforepeoplewerethinkingofheadingbacktotheslopes.abouttwentypeoplewereinthepicture.

  onthefarright,justbehindhenrikvanger,stoodaanwithlongblondhair.hewaswearingadarkpaddedjacketwithadistinctivepatchattheshoulder.sincethepublicationwasinblack-and-white,thecolourwasn’tidentifiable,butsalanderwaswillingtobetherlifethattheshoulderpatchwasred.

  thecaptionexplainedtheconnection.…farright,martinvanger,whoisstudyinginuppsala.heisalreadybeingdiscussedassoeonewithaproisingfutureinthepany’sanageent.

  “gotcha,”salandersaidinalowvoice.

  sheswitchedoffthedesklapandleftthenewslettersinpilesalloverthedesk—soethingforthatslutlindgrentotakecareoftoorrow.

  shewentouttothecarparkthroughasidedoor.asitclosedbehindher,shereeberedthatshehadproisedtotellthenightwatchanwhensheleft.she. compedandlethereyessweepoverthecarpark.thewatchan’sofficewasontheothersideofthebuilding.thateantthatshewouldhavetowalkallthewayroundtotheotherside.letsleepingdogslie,shedecided.

  beforesheputonherhelet,sheturnedonherobileandcalledblokvist’snuber.shegotaessagesayingthatthesubscribercouldnotbereached.butshealsosawthathehadtriedtocallhernofewerthanthirteentiesbetween3:30and9:00.inthelasttwohours,nocall.

  salandertriedthecottagenuber,buttherewasnoanswer.shefrowned,strappedonherputer,putonherhelet,andkick-startedtheotorcycle.theridefrotheainofficeattheentrancetohedestad’sindustrialdistrictouttohedebyislandtookteninutes.alightwasoninthekitchen.

  salanderlookedaround.herfirstthoughtwasthatblokvisthadgooseefrode,butfrothebridgeshehadalreadynoticedthatthelightswereoffinfrode’shouseontheothersideofthewater.shelookedatherwatch:11:40.

  shewentintothecottage,openedthewardrobe,andtookoutthetwopcsthatshewasusingtostorethesurveillancepicturesfrothecae