aranskyaeptedherasshewas,butshewasnotallowedtoeettheclients.today’sassignentwasanexception.

    salanderwasdressedforthedayinablackt-shirtwithapictureonitofe.t.withfangs,andthewordsiamalsoanalien.shehadonablackskirtthatwasfrayedatthehe,aworn-outblack,id-lengthleatherjacket,rivetbelt,heavydocmartenboots,andhorizontallystriped,green-and-redkneesocks.shehadputonake-upinacolourscheethatindicatedsheightbecolourblind.inotherwords,shewasexceptionallydeckedout.

    aranskysighedandshiftedhisgazetotheconservativelydressedguestwiththethickglasses.dirchfrode,alawyer,hadinsistedoneetingandbeingabletoaskquestionsoftheeployeewhopreparedthereport.aranskyhaddoneallhecivillycouldtopreventtheeetingtakingplace,sayingthatsalanderhadacold,wasaway,orwasswapedwithotherwork.thelawyerrepliedcallythatitadenodifference—theatterwasnoturgentandhecouldeasilywaitacoupleofdays.atlasttherewasnowaytoavoidbringingthetogether.nowfrode,whoseeedtobeinhislatesixties,waslookingatlisbethsalanderwithevidentfascination.salandergloweredbackwithanexpressionthatdidnotindicateanywarfeelings.

    aranskysighedandlookedonceoreatthefoldershehadplacedonhisdesklabelledcarlmikaelblomkvist.thenaewasfollowedbyasocialsecuritynuber,neatlyprintedonthecover.hesaidthenaeoutloud.herrfrodesnappedoutofhisbewitchedstateandturnedtoaransky.

    “sowhatcanyoutelleaboutmikaelblokvist？”hesaid.

    “thisisms.salander,whopreparedthereport.”aranskyhesitatedasecondandthenwentonwithasilethatwasintendedtoengenderconfidence,butwhichseeedhelplesslyapologetic.“don’tbefooledbyheryouth.sheisourabsolutebestresearcher.”

    “i’persuadedofthat,”frodesaidinadrytohathintedattheopposite.“tellewhatshefoundout.”

    itwasclearthatfrodehadnoideahowtoacttowardssalander.heresortedtodirectingthequestiontoaransky,asifshehadnotbeenintheroo.salanderblewabigbubblewithhergu.beforearanskycouldanswer,shesaid,“couldyouasktheclientwhetherhewouldpreferthelongortheshortversion？”

    therewasabrief,ebarrassedsilencebeforefrodefinallyturnedtosalanderandtriedtorepairthedaagebyassuingafriendly,avunculartone.

    “iwouldbegratefuliftheyoungladywouldgiveeaverbalsuaryoftheresults.”

    foraoentherexpressionwassosurprisinglyhostilethatitsentacoldshiverdownfrode’sspine.thenjustasquicklyherexpressionsoftenedandfrodewonderedwhetherhehadiaginedthatlook.whenshebegantospeakshesoundedlikeacivilservant.

    “allowetosayfirstthatthiswasnotaveryplicatedassignent,apartfrothefactthatthedescriptionofthetaskitselfwassoewhatvague.youwantedtoknow‘everythingthatcouldbedugup’abouthi,butgavenoindicationofwhethertherewereanythinginparticularyouwerelookingfor.forthisreasonit’ssoethingofapotpourriofhislife.thereportis193pageslong,but120pagesarecopiesofarticleshewroteorpressclippings.blokvistisapublicpersonwithfewsecretsandnotveryuchtohide.”

    “buthedoeshavesoesecrets？”frodesaid.

    “everyonehassecrets,”sherepliedneutrally.“it’sjustaatteroffindingoutwhattheyare.”

    “let’shear.”

    “mikaelblokvistwasbornonjanuary18,1960,whichakeshiforty-twoyearsold.hewasborninborl？ngebuthasneverlivedthere.hisparents,kurtandanitablokvist,werearoundthirty-fivewhenthechildwasborn.bothhavesincedied.hisfatherwasaachineryinstallerandovedaroundagooddeal.hisother,asfarasicouldsee,wasneveranythingbutahousewife.thefailyovedhousetostockholwhenmikaelstartedschool.hehasasisterthreeyearsyoungernaedannikawhoisalawyer.healsohassoecousins,bothaleandfeale.wereyouplanningtoservecoffee？”

    thislastwasdirectedataransky,whohastilypupedthreecupsofcoffeefrothetheroshehadorderedfortheeeting.heotionedforsalandertogoon.

    “soin1966thefailylivedinlillaessingen.blokvistwenttoschoolfirstinbloaandthentoprepschoolonkungsholen.hehaddecentgraduatingarks—therearecopiesinthefolder.duringhisprepschooldayshestudiedusicandplayedbassinarockbandnaedbootstrap,whichactuallyputoutasinglethatwasplayedontheradiointhesuerof1979.afterprepschoolheworkedasaticketcollectorinthetunnelbana,savedsoeoney,andtravelledabroad.hewasawayforayear,ostlybuingaroundasia—india,thailand—andaswingdowntoaustralia.hebeganstudyingtobeajournalistinstockholwhenhewastwenty-one,butinterruptedhisstudiesafterthefirstyeartodohisilitaryserviceasarifleaninkirunainlapland.itwassoesortofachounit,andheleftwithgoodarks.afterilitaryservicehepletedhisjournalisdegreeandhasworkedinthefieldeversince.howdetaileddoyouwantetobe？”

    “justtellwhatyouthinkisiportant.”

    “heesoffalittlelikepracticalpiginthethreelittlepigs.sofarhehasbeenanexcellentjournalist.intheeightieshehadalotofteporaryjobs,firstintheprovincialpressandtheninstockhol.there’salist.hisbreakthroughcaewiththestoryaboutthebeargang—thebankrobbersheidentified.”

    “kalleblokvist.”

    “hehatesthenicknae,whichisunderstandable.soebody’dgetafatlipiftheyevercalledepippilongstockingonanewspaperplacard.”

    shecastadarklookataransky,whoswallowedhard.onorethanoneoasionhehadthoughtofsalanderaspreciselypippilongstocking.hewavedforhertogetonwithit.

    “onesourcedeclaresthatuptothenhewantedtobeacriereporter—andheinternedasoneataneveningpaper.buthehasbeeknownforhisworkasapoliticalandfinancialreporter.hehaspriarilybeenafreelancer,withonefull-tiepositionataneveningpaperinthelateeighties.heleftin1990whenhehelpedstarttheonthlyagazinemillenniu.theagazinebeganasarealoutsider,withoutanybigpublishingpanytoholditshand.itscirculationhasgrownandtodayis21,000copiesonthly.theeditorialofficeisong？tgatanonlyafewblocksfrohere.”

    “aleft-wingagazine.”

    “thatdependsonhowyoudefiheconcept‘left-wing.’millenniuisgenerallyviewedascriticalofsociety,buti’guessingtheanarchiststhinkit’sawipybourgeoiscrapagazinealongthelinesofarenaorordfront,whilethemoderatestudentsassociationprobablythinksthattheeditorsareallbolsheviks.thereisnothingtoindicatethatblokvisthaseverbeenactivepolitically,evenduringtheleft-wingwavewhenhewasgoingtoprepschool.whilehewaspluggingawayattheschoolofjournalishewaslivingwithagirlwhoatthetiewasactiveinthesyndicalistsandtodaysitsinparliaentasarepresentativeoftheleftparty.heseestohavebeengiventheleft-wingstappriarilybecauseasafinancialjournalisthespecialisesininvestigativereportingaboutcorruptionandshadytransactionsinthecorporateworld.hehasdonesoedevastatingindividualportraitsofcaptainsofindustryandpoliticians—whichwereostlikelywelldeserved—andcausedanuberofresignationsandlegalrepercussions.theostwell-knownwasthearbogaaffair,whichresultedintheforcedresignationofaconservativepoliticianandthesentencingofaforercouncillortoayearinprisonforebezzleent.callingattentiontocriescanhardlybeconsideredanindicationthatsoeoneisleft-wing.”

    “iunderstandwhatyouean.whatelse？”

    “hehaswrittentwos.oneaboutthearbogaaffairandoneaboutfinancialjournalisentitledtheknightsteplar,whichcaeoutthreeyearsago.ihaven’treadthe,butjudgingfrothereviewsitseestohavebeencontroversial.itproptedagooddealofdebateintheedia.”

    “money？”frodesaid.

    “he’snotrich,buthe’snotstarving.iaxreturnsareattachedtothereport.hehasabout250,000sekinthebank,inbotharetireentfundandasavingsaount.hehasanaountofaround100,000kronorthatheusesascashforworkingexpenses,travelandsuch.heownsaco-opapartentthat’spaidoff—700squarefeetonbellansgatan—andhehasnoloansordebts.hehasoneotherasset—soepropertyinsandhanoutinthearchipelago.it’sacottageof270squarefeet,furnishedasasuercabinandbythewater,rightintheostattractivepartofthevillage.apparentlyanuncleofhisboughtitintheforties,whensuchthingswerestillpossiblefornoralortals,andthecabinendedupinblokvist’shands.theydividedthingsupsothathissistergottheparents’apartentinlillaessingenandblokvistgotthecabin.ihavenoideawhatitightbeworthtoday—certainlyafewillion—butontheotherhandhedoesn’tseetowanttosell,andhegoesouttosandhanfairlyoften.”

    “ine？”

    “he’spartownerofmillenniu,butheonlytakesoutabout12,000insalaryeachonth.therestheearnsfrohisfreelancejobs—thetotalvaries.hehadabigyearthreeyearsagowhenhetookinaround450,000.lastyearheonlyade120,000frofreelancejobs.”

    “hehastopay150,000intaxesinadditiontolawyer’sfees,etcetera,”frodesaid.“let’sassuethatthetotalisratherhigh.he’llalsobelosingoneywhileservinghisgaolter.”

    “whicheansthathe’sgoingtobecleanedout,”salandersaid.

    “ishehonest？”

    “that’shistrustcapital,sotospeak.hisiageistoappearastheguardianofrobustoralityasopposedtothebusinessworld,andheisinvitedprettyregularlytopontificateontelevision.”

    “thereprobablyisn’tuchleftofthatcapitalafterhisconvictiontoday,”frodesaid.

    “idon’twanttoclaithatiknowexactlywhatdeandsareadeonajournalist,butafterthissetbackitwillprobablybealongtiebeforemasterdetectiveblokvistwinsthegrandprizeforjournalis.he’sreallyadeafoolofhiselfthistie,”salandersaid.“ifiayakeapersonalent…”

    aranskyopenedhiseyeswide.intheyearssalanderhadworkedforhi,shehadneveradeasinglepersonalentinaninvestigationofanindividual.bone-dryfactswereallthatatteredtoher.

    “itwasn’tpartofyassignenttolookatthequestionoffactinthewennerstr？affair,butididfollowthetrialandhavetoaditthatiwasactuallyflabbergasted.thethingfeltwrong,andit’stotally…outofcharacterformikaelblokvisttopublishsoethingthatseestobesooffthewall.”

    salanderscratchedherneck.frodelookedpatient.aranskywonderedwhetherheightbeistakenorwhethersalanderreallywasunsurehowtocontinue.thesalanderhekneasneverunsureorhesitant.finallysheseeedtoakeupherind.

    “quiteofftherecord,sotospeak…ihaven’tstudiedthewennerstr？affairproperly,butireallythinkthatmikaelblokvistwassetup.ithinkthere’ssoethingtotallydifferentinthisstorythanwhatthecourt’sverdictisindicating.”

    thelawyerscrutinisedsalanderwithsearchingeyes,andaranskynoticedthatforthefirsttiesinceshebeganherreport,theclientwasshowingorethanapoliteinterest.headeaentalnotethatthewennerstr？affairheldacertaininterestforfrode.correction,aranskythoughtatonce,frodewasnotinterestedinthewennerstr？affair—itwaswhensalanderhintedthatblokvistwassetupthatfrodereacted.

    “howdoyouean,exactly？”frodesaid.

    “it’sspeculationonypart,buti’convincedthatsoeorickedhi.”

    “andwhatakesyouthinkso？”

    “everythinginblokvist’sbackgroundshowsthathe’saverycarefulreporter.everycontroversialrevelationhepublishedbeforewasalwayswelldocuented.iwenttocourtonedayandlistened.heseeedtohavegivenupwithoutafight.thatdoesn’taordwithhischaracteratall.ifwearetobelievethecourt,headeupastoryaboutwennerstr？withoutashredofevidenceandpublisheditlikesoesortofjournalisticsuicidebober.that’ssiplynotblokvist’sstyle.”

    “sowhatdoyouthinkhappened？”

    “icanonlyguess.blokvistbelievedinhisstory,butsoethinghappenedalongthewayandtherationturnedouttobefalse.thisinturneansthatthesourcewassoeonehetrustedorthatsoeonedeliberatelyfedhifalseration—whichsoundsiprobablyplicated.thealternativeisthathewassubjectedtosuchaseriousthreatthathethrewinthetowelandwouldratherbeseenasaninpetentidiotthanfightback.buti’justspeculating,asisaid.”

    whensalanderadeanattepttocontinueheraount,frodehelduphishand.hesatforaoent,druinghisfingersonthearrestofhischairbeforehehesitantlyturnedtoheragain.

    “ifweshoulddecidetoengageyoutounravelthetruthinthewennerstr？affair…howuchchanceistherethatyou’dfindoutanything？”

    “ican’tanswerthat.thereaynotbeanythingtofind.”

    “butwouldyoubewillingtoakeanattept？”

    sheshrugged.“it’snotyplacetodecide.iworkforherraransky,andhedecideswhatjobshewantstoassigntoe.andthenitdependswhatsortofrationyou’relookingfor.”

    “leteputitthisway…anditakeitthatwe’respeakinginconfidence？”aranskynodded.“idon’tknowanythingaboutthisparticularatter,butidoknowbeyondanydoubtthatinothersituationswennerstr？hasacteddishonestly.thewennerstr？casehasseriouslyaffectedmikaelblokvist’slife,andihaveaninterestindiscerningwhetherthere’sanythinginyourspeculations.”

    theconversationhadtakenanunexpectedturn,andaranskywasinstantlyonthealert.whatfrodewasaskingwasformiltonsecuritytopokearoundinacasethathadalreadybeenconcluded.acaseinwhichthereayhavebeensoesortofthreattotheanblokvist,andiftheytookthison,miltonwouldriskcollidingwithwennerstr？’sregientoflawyers.aranskywasnotintheleastfortedbythethoughtofturningsalanderlooseinsuchasituation,likeacruiseissileoutofcontrol.

    itwasnoterelyaatterofconcernforthepany.salanderhadadeplainthatshedidnotwantaranskytoactassoesortofworriedstepfather,andsincetheiragreeenthehadbeencarefulnevertobehavelikeone,butinrealityhewouldneverstopworryingabouther.hesoetiescaughthiselfparingsalandertohisdaughters.heconsideredhiselfagoodfatherwhodidnotinterfereunnecessarilyintheirlives.butheknewthathewouldnottolerateitifhisdaughtersbehavedlikesalanderorlivedthelifesheled.

    inthedepthsofhiscroatian—orpossiblybosnianorarenian—hearthehadneverbeenabletoshedtheconvictionthatsalander’slifewasheadingfordisaster.sheseeedtheperfectvictiforanyonewhowishedherill,andhedreadedtheorninghewouldbeawakenedbythenewsthatsoeonehaddoneherhar.

    “aninvestigationofthiskindcouldgetexpensive,”aranskysaid,issuingawarningsoastogaugetheseriousnessoffrode’sinquiry.

    “thenwe’llsetaceiling,”frodesaid.“idon’tdeandtheipossible,butit’sobviousthatyourcolleague,justasyouassurede,isexceedinglypetent.”

    “salander？”aranskysaid,turningtoherwitharaisedeyebrow.

    “i’notworkingonanythingelserightnow.”

    “ok.butiwantustobeinagreeentabouttheconstraintsofthejob.let’sheartherestofyourreport.”

    “thereisn’tuchoreapartfrohisprivatelife.in1986hearriedmonicaabrahassonandthesaeyeartheyhadadaughter,pernilla.thearriagedidn’tlast；theyweredivorcedin1991.abrahassonhasrearried,buttheyseetobefriendsstill.thedaughterliveswithherotheranddoesn’tseeblokvistoften.”

    frodeaskedfororecoffeeandthenturnedtosalander.

    “yousaidthateveryonehassecrets.didyoufindany？”

    “ieantthatallpeoplehavethingstheyconsidertobeprivateandthattheydon’tgoaroundairinginpublic.blokvistisobviouslyabighitwithwoen.he’shadseveralloveaffairsandagreatanycasualflings.butonepersonhaskeptturningupinhislifeovertheyears,andit’sanunusualrelationship.”

    “inwhatway？”

    “erikaberger,editorinchiefofmillenniu:upper-classgirl,swedishother,belgianfatherresidentinsweden.bergerandblokvistetinjournalisschoolandhavehadanon-and-offrelationshipeversince.”

    “thataynotbesounusual,”frodesaid.

    “no,possiblynot.butbergerhappenstobearriedtotheartistgregerbeckan,ainorcelebritywhohasdonealotofterriblethingsinpublicvenues.”

    “soshe’sunfaithful.”

    “beckanknowsabouttheirrelationship.it’sasituationapparentlyaeptedbyallpartiesconcerned.soetiesshesleepsatblokvist’sandsoetiesathoe.idon’tknowexactlyhowitworks,butitwasprobablyacontributingfactortothebreakupofblokvist’sarriagetoabrahasson.”

    chapter3

    friday,deceber20–saturday,deceber21

    erikabergerlookedupquizzicallywhenanapparentlyfreezingblokvistcaeintotheeditorialoffice.millenniu’sofficeswereinthecentreofthetrendysectionofg？tgatan,abovetheofficesofgreenpeace.therentwasactuallyabittoosteepfortheagazine,buttheyhadallagreedtokeepthespace.

    sheglancedattheclock.itwas5:10,anddarknesshadfallenoverst