theoodturnedcheerful.blokvistwonderedhowhewouldhavefeltifhewereoneofthesittinglisteningtoallthis.dubious？mostlikely.butapparentlyhestillhadsoe“trustcapital”aongmillenniu’ssallgroupofeployees.hehelduphishand.

  “ifthisisgoingtowork,it’siportantthatwennerstr？believesthatmillenniuisonthevergeofcollapsebecauseidon’twanthitostartsoesortofretaliationorindeedgetridoftheevidencewhichweeantoexpose.sowe’regoingtostartwritingascriptthatyou’llfollowduringtheingonths.firstofall,it’siportantthatnothingwediscussheretodayiswrittendownorisreferredtoineails.wedon’tknowtowhatifanyextentdahlanhasbeendiggingaroundinourputers,andi’vebeeawarethatit’salaringlysipletoreadcoworkers’privateeail.so—we’regoingtodothisorally.ifyoufeeltheneedtoairanything,goandseechristerathoe.verydiscreetly.”

  blokvistwrote“noeail”onthewhiteboard.

  “second,iwantyoutostartsquabblingaongyourselves,plainingaboutewhendahlanisaround.don’texaggerate.justgiveyournaturalbitchyselvesfullrein.christer,iwantyouanderikatohaveaseriousdisagreeent.useyouriaginationandbesecretiveaboutthecause.”

  hewrote“startbitching”onthewhiteboard.

  “third,whenerikaeshoe,herjobwillbetoseetoitthatjannedahlanthinksouragreeentwiththevangercorporation—whichisinfactgivingusitsfullsupport—hasfallenthroughbecausehenrikvangerisseriouslyillandmartinvangerdiedinacarcrash.”

  hewrotetheword“disration.”

  “buttheagreeentreallyissolid？”nilssonsaid.

  “believee,”blokvistsaid,“thevangercorporationwillgotogreatlengthstoensurethatmillenniusurvives.inafeeeks,let’ssayattheendofaugust,erikawillcallaeetingtowarnyouaboutlayoffs.youallknowthatit’sasca,andthattheonlyonewho’sgoingtobeleavingisdahlan.butstarttalkingaboutlookingfornewjobsandsaywhatalousyreferenceitistohavemillenniuonyourc.v.”

  “andyoureallythinkthatthisgaewillendupsavingmillenniu？”magnussonsaid.

  “iknowitwill.andsonny,iwantyo. comuttogetherafakereporteachonthshowingfallingadvertisingsalesandshowingthatthenuberofsubscribershasalsodropped.”

  “thissoundsfun,”nilssonsaid.“shouldwekeepitinternalhereintheoffice,orshouldweleakittootherediatoo？”

  “keepitinternal.ifthestoryshowsupanywhere,we’llknohoputitthere.inaveryfewonths,ifanyoneasksusaboutit,we’llbeabletotellthe:you’vebeenlisteningtobaselessruours,andwe’veneverconsideredclosingmillenniudown.thebestthingthatcouldhappenisfordahlantogooutandtipofftheotherassedia.ifyou’reabletogivedahlanatipaboutaplausiblebutfundaentallyidioticstory,souchthebetter.”

  theyspentanhourconcoctingascriptanddividingupthevariousroles.

  aftertheeetingblokvisthadcoffeewithmalatjavaonhorngatspuckeln.

  “christer,it’sreallyiportantthatyoupickuperikaattheairportandfillherin.youhavetoconvincehe. comlayalongwiththegae.ifiknowher,she’llwanttoconfrontdahlaninstantly—butthatcan’thappen.idon’twantwennerstr？tohearanykindofbuzzandthenanagetoburytheevidence.”

  “willdo.”

  “andseetoitthaterikastaysawayfrohereailuntilsheinstallsthepgpencryptionprograeandlearnshowtouseit.it’sprettylikelythatthroughdahlan,wennerstr？isabletoreadeverythingweeailtoeachother.iwantyouandeveryoneelseintheeditorialofficestoinstallpgp.doitinanaturalway.getthenaeofaputerconsultanttocontactandhavehieovertoinspecttheworkandalltheputersintheoffice.lethiinstallthesoftwareasifitwereaperfectlynaturalpartoftheservice.”

  “i’lldoybest.butmikael—whatareyouworkingon？”

  “wennerstr？.”

  “whatexactly？”

  “forthetiebeing,thathastoreainysecret.”

  mallookedunfortable.“i’vealwaystrustedyou,mikael.doesthiseanthatyoudon’ttruste？”

  blokvistlaughed.

  “ofcourseitrustyou.butrightnowi’involvedinratherseriouscriinalactivitiesthatcouldgetetwoyearsinprison.it’sthenatureofyresearchthat’salittledubious…i’playingwiththesaeunderhandethodsaswennerstr？uses.idon’twantyouorerikaoranyoneelseatmillenniutobeinvolvedinanyway.”

  “you’reakingeawfullynervous.”

  “staycool,christer,andtellerikathatthestoryisgoingtobeabigone.reallybig.”

  “erikawillinsistonknowingwhatyou’reworkingon…”

  mikaelthoughtforasecond.thenhesiled.

  “tellherthatsheadeitverycleartoeinthespringwhenshesignedacontractwithhenrikvangerbehindybackthati’nowjustanordinaryortalfreelancerwhonolongersitsontheboardandhasnoinfluenceonmillenniupolicy.whicheansthatinolongerhaveanyobligationtokeepherred.butiproisethatifshebehavesherself,i’llgiveherfir. comtiononthestory.”

  “she’sgoingtogothroughtheroof,”malsaidcheerfully.

  blokvistknewthathehadnotbeenentirelyhonestwithmal.hewasdeliberatelyavoidingberger.theostnaturalthingwouldhavebeentocontactheratonceandtellherabouttherationinhispossession.buthedidnotwanttotalktoher.adozentieshehadstoodwithhisobileinhishand,startingtocallher.eachtiehechangedhisind.

  heknehattheproblewas.hecouldnotlookherintheeyes.

  thecover-upinwhichhehadparticipatedinhedestadwasunfivablefroaprofessionalpointofview.hehadnoideahowhecouldexplainittoherwithoutlying,andiftherewasohinghehadneverthoughtofdoing,itwaslyingtoerikaberger.

  aboveall,hedidnothavetheenergytodealwiththatprobleatthesaetieashewastacklingwennerstr？.soheputoffseeingher,turnedoffhisobile,andavoidedtalkingtoher.butheknewthatthereprievecouldonlybeteporary.

  rightaftertheeditorialeeting,mikaelovedouttohiscabininsandhan；hehadn’tbeenthereinoverayear.hisbaggageincludedtwoboxesofprintoutsandthecdsthatsalanderhadgivenhi.hestockeduponfood,lockedthedoor,openedhisi,andstartedwriting.eachdayhetookashortwalk,boughtthenewspapers,andshoppedforgroceries.theguestarinawasstillfilledwithyachts,andyoungpeoplewhohadborrowedtheirfather’sboatwereusuallysittinginthedivers’bar,drinkingtheselvessilly.blokvistscarcelytookinhissurroundings.hesatinfrontofhisputeroreorlessfrotheoentheopenedhiseyesuntilhefellintobedatnight,exhausted.

  encryptedeailfroeditorinchie. comublisheronleaveofabsence:mikael.iwanttoknohat’sgoingon—goodgrief,i’veebackfroholidaytototalchaos.thenewsaboutjannedahlanandthisdoublegaeyou’veeupwith.martinvangerdead.harrietvangeralive.what’sgoingoninhedeby？whereareyou？isthereastory？whydon’tyouansweryourobile？/e.

  p.s.iunderstoodtheinsinuationthatchristerrelayedwithsuchglee.you’regoingtohavetoeatyourwords.areyouseriouslycrosswithe？

  p.p.s.iatrustingyouforthetiebeing,butyouaregoingtohavetogiveproof—youreeber,thestuffthatstandsupincourt—onj.d.

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  hiricky.no,forgod’ssake,i’notcross.fiveefornotkeepingyouupdated,butthepastfewonthsofylifehavebee. comsy-turvy.i’lltellyoueverythingwhenweseeeachother,butnotbyeail.i’atsandhan.thereisastory,butthestoryisnotharrietvanger.i’goingtobegluedtoyputerhereforawhile.thenit’llbeover.truste.hugsandkisses.m.

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  sandhan？i’ingtoseeyouiediately.

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  notrightnow.waitacoupleofweeks,atleastuntili’vegotthestoryanised.besides,i’expectingpany.

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  inthatcase,ofcoursei’llstayaway.butihavetoknohat’sgoingon.henrikvangerhasbeeceoagain,andhedoesn’tanswerycalls.ifthedealwithvangerisoff,iabsolutelyneedtoknow.ricky

  p.s.whoisshe？

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  firstofall:noquestionofhenrikpullingout.butheisstillworkingonlyashortday,andi’guessingthatthechaosaftermartin’sdeathandharriet’sresurrectionistakingitstollonhisstrength.

  second:millenniuwillsurvive.i’workingontheostiportantreportofourlives,andwhenwepublishit,it’sgoingtosinkwennerstr？onceandforall.

  third:mylifeisupanddownrightnow,butasforyouandeandmillenniu—nothinghaschanged.truste.kisses/mikael.

  p.s.i’llintroduceyouassoonasanopportunitypresentsitself.

  whensalanderwentouttosandhanshefoundanunshavenandhollow-eyedblokvist,whogaveheraquickhugandaskedhertoakesoecoffeeandwaitwhilehefinishedwhathewaswriting.

  salanderlookedaroundhiscabinanddecidedalostatoncethatshelikedit.itwasrightnexttoajetty,withthewaterthreepacesfrothedoor.itwasonlyfifteenbyeighteenfeetbutithadsuchahighceilingthattherewasspaceforasleepingloft.shecouldstandupstraightthere,just.blokvistwouldhavetostoop.thebedwaswideenoughforbothofthe.

  thecabinhadonelargewindowfacingthewater,rightnexttothefrontdoor.thatwaswherehiskitchentablestood,doublingashisdesk.onthewallnearthedeskwasashelfwithacdplayerandabigcollectionofelvisandhardrock,whichwasnotsalander’sfirstchoice.

  inacornerwasawoodstoveadeofsoapstonewithaglazedfront.therestofthesparsefurnishingsconsistedofalargewardrobeforclothesandlinenandasinkthatalsofunctionedasawashingalcovebehindashowercurtain.nearthesinkwasasallwindowononesideofthecabin.underthespiralstairstotheloftblokvisthadbuiltaseparatespaceforapostingtoilet.thewholecabinwasarrangedlikethecabinonaboat,withclevercubbyholesforstowingthings.

  duringherpersonalinvestigationofmikaelblokvist,salanderhadfoundoutthathehadreodelledthecabinandbuiltthefurniturehiself—aconclusiondrawnfrotheentsofanacquaintancewhohadsentmikaelaneailaftervisitingsandhanandwasipressedbyhishandiwork.everythingwasclean,unpretentious,andsiple,borderingonspartan.shecouldseewhyhelovedthiscabininsandhansouch.

  aftertwohourssheanagedtodistractmikaelenoughthatheturnedoffhisputerinfrustration,shaved,andtookheroutforaguidedtour.itwasrainingandwindy,andtheyquicklyretreatedtotheinn.blokvisttoldherwhathewaswriting,andsalandergavehiacdwithupdatesfrowennerstr？’sputer.

  thenshetookhiuptotheloftandanagedtogethisclothesoffanddistracthievenfurther.shewokeuplatethatnighttofindherselfalone.shepeereddownfrotheloftandsawhisittinghunchedoverhisputer.shelaythereforalongtie,leaningononehand,watchinghi.heseeedhappy,andshetoofeltstrangelycontentwithlife.

  salanderstayedonlyfivedaysbeforeshewentbacktostockholtodoajobforaransky.shespentelevendaysontheassignent,adeherreport,andthenreturnedtosandhan.thestackofprintedpagesnexttomikael’siwasgrowing.

  thistieshestayedforfourweeks.theyfellintoaroutine.theygotupat8:00,atebreakfast,andspentanhourtogether.thenmikaelworkedintentlyuntillateintheafternoon,whentheytookawalkandtalked.salanderspentostofthedaysinbed,eitherreadingsorsurfingtheusingblokvist’sadslode.shetriednottodisturbhiduringtheday.theyatedinnerratherlateandonlythendidsalandertaketheinitiativeandforcehiuptothesleepingloft,whereshesawtoitthathedevotedallhisattentiontoher.

  itwasasifshewereontheveryfirstholidayofherlife.

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  him.it’snowofficial.jannedahlanhasresignedandstartsworkingatmonopolyfinancialmagazineinthreeweeks.i’vedoneasyouaskedandsaidnothing,andeveryoneisgoingaroundplayingonkeygaes.e.

  p.s.theyseetobehavingfun.henryandlottahadafightandstartedthrowingthingsateachotheracoupleofdaysago.they’vebeenessingwithdahlan’sheadsoblatantlythatican’tunderstandhowhecanissseeingthatit’sallaput-upjob.

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  wishhigoodluckfroe,willyou,andlethigostraightaway.butlockupthesilverware.hugsandkisses/m.

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  ihavenoanagingeditortwoweeksbeforeweg. comress,andyinvestigativereporterissittingoutinsandhanrefusingtotalktoe.micke,i’onyknees.canyouein？/erika.

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  holdoutanothercoupleofweeks,thenwe’llbehoefree.andstartplanningforadeceberissuethat’sgoingtobeunlikeanythingwe’veeverdone.thepiecewilltakeup40pages.m.

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  40pages！！！areyououtofyourind？

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  it’sgoingtobeaspecialissue.ineedthreeoreweeks.couldyoudothefollowing:findagoodprinterthatcanproduceapaperbackquicklyandcheaply.andbytheway,we’regoingtoneedcapita. comrintourfirst.kisses/mikael

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  specialissue.publisher.money.yes,aster.anythingelseicandoforyou？dancenakedatslussplan？/e.

  p.s.iassueyouknohatyou’redoing.butwhatdoidoaboutdahlan？

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  don’tdoanythingaboutdahlan.tellhihe’sfreetogorightawayandyouaren’tsureyoucanpayhiswagesanyway.monopolyisn’tgoingtosurviveforlong.bringinorefreelanceaterialforthisissue.andhireanewanagingeditor,forgod’ssake./m.

  p.s.slussplan？it’sadate.

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  slussplan—inyourdreas.butwe’vealwaysdohehiringtogether./ricky.

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  andwe’vealwaysagreedaboutwhoweshouldhire.wewillthistietoo,noatterwhoyouchoose.we’regoingtoscupperwennerstr？.that’sthewholestory.justletefinishthisinpeace./m.

  inearlyoctobersalanderreadanarticleontheintereditionofthehedestadcourier.shetoldblokvistaboutit.isabellavangerhaddiedafterashortillness.shewasournedbyherdaughter,harrietvanger,latelyreturnedfroaustralia.

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  himikael.

  harrietvangercaetoseeeattheofficetoday.shecalledfiveinutesbeforeshearrived,andiwastotallyunprepared.abeautifulwoan,elegantclothesandacoolgaze.

  shecaetotellethatshe’llbereplacingmartinvangerashenrik’srepresentativeonourboard.shewaspoliteandfriendlyandassuredethatthevangercorporationhadnoplanstobackoutoftheagreeent.onthecontrary,thefailystandsfullybehindhenrik’sobligationstotheagazine.sheaskedforatouroftheeditorialoffices,andshewantedtoknowhowiseethesituation.

  itoldherthetruth.thatitfeelsasifidon’thavesolidgroundunderyfeet,thatyouhaveforbiddenetoetosandhan,andthatidon’tknohatyou’reworkingon,otherthanthatyouareplanningtosinkwennerstr？.sheraisedaneyebrowandsiledandaskedifihaddoubtsthatyou’dsueed.whatwasisupposedtosaytothat？isaidthatiwouldsleepalittleeasierifiknewexactlywhatyouwerewriting.jeez,ofcourseitrustyou.butyou’redrivingecrazy.

  iaskedherifsheknehatyouwereworkingon.shedenieditbutsaidthatitwasheripressionthatyouwereextreelyresourceful,withaninnovativewayofthinking.

  isaidthatialsogatheredthatsoethingdraatichadhappenedupinhedestadandthatiwaseversoslightlycuriousaboutthestoryregardingharrietvangerherself.inshort,ifeltlikeanidiot.sheaskedewhetheryoureallyhadn’ttoldeanything.shesaidthatsheunderstoodthatyouandihaveaspecialrelationshipandthatyouwouldundoubtedlytellethestorywhenyouhadtie.thensheaskedifshecouldtruste.whatwasisupposedtosay？she’sonthemillenniuboard,andyou’velefteheretotallyinthedark.

  thenshesaidsoethingodd.sheaskedenottojudgeeitherheroryoutooharshly.shesaidsheowedyousoesortofdebtofgratitude,andshewouldreallylikeitifsheandicouldalsobefriends.thensheproisedtotellethestorysoedayifyoucouldn’tdoit.halfanhouragosheleft,andi’stillinadaze.ithinkilikeher,butwhoisthisperson？/erika

  p.s.iissyou.ihaveafeelingthatsoethingnastyhappenedinhedestad.christersaysthatyouhaveastrangearkonyourneck.

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  hiricky.thestoryaboutharrietissoiserablyawfulthatyoucan’teveniagineit.itwouldbegreatifshecouldtellyouaboutitherself.icanhardlybringyselftothinkaboutit.

  bytheway,youcantrusther.shewastellingthetruthwhenshesaidthatsheowesadebtofgratitudetoe—andbelievee,shewillneverdoanythingtoharmillenniu.beherfriendifyoulikeher.shedeservesrespect.andshe’sahellofabusinesswoan./m.

  thenextdaymikaelreceivedanothereail.

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  himikael.i’vebeentryingtofindtietowritetoyouforseveralweeksnow,butitseesthereareneverenoughhoursintheday.youleftsosuddenlyfrohedebythatineverhadachancetosaygoodbye.

  sinceyreturntosweden,ydayshavebeenfilledwithb