“itwasahorrificevent.”

    “morethanthat.itruinedylife.that’ssoethingi’vebeeoreawareofastiehaspassed.doyouhaveagoodsenseofyourself？”

    “ithinkso,yes.”

    “idotoo.ican’tfetwhathappened.butyotiveshavechangedovertheyears.atfirstitwasprobablygrief.iwantedtofindherandatleasthaveachancetoburyher.itwasaboutgettingjusticeforharriet.”

    “inwhatwayhasthatchanged？”

    “nowit’soreaboutfindingthebastardwhodidit.butthefunnythingis,theolderiget,theoreofanall-absorbinghobbyithasbee.”

    “hobby？”

    “yes,iwouldusethatword.whenthepoliceinvestigationpeteredoutikeptgoing.i’vetriedtoproceedsysteaticallyandscientifically.i’vegatheredalltherationthatcouldpossiblybefound—thephotographs,thepolicereport,i’vewrittendowneverythingpeopletoldeaboutwhattheyweredoingthatday.soineffecti’vespentalosthalfylifecollectingrationaboutasingleday.”

    “yourealise,isuppose,thatafterthirty-sixyearsthekillerhiselfightbedeadandburied？”

    “idon’tbelievethat.”

    blokvistraisedhiseyebrowsattheconvictioninhisvoice.

    “let’sfinishdinnerandgobackupstairs.there’soneoredetailbeforeystoryisdone.andit’stheostperplexingofall.”

    salanderparkedthecorollawiththeautoatictransissionbytheuterrailwaystationinsundbyberg.shehadborrowedthetoyotafromiltonsecurity’sotorpool.shehadnotexactlyaskedperission,butaranskyhadneverexpresslyforbiddenherfrousingmilton’scars.soonerorlater,shethought,ihavetogetavehicleofyown.shedidownasecond-handkawasaki125,whichsheusedinthesuertie.duringthewinterthebikewaslockedinhercellar.

    shewalkedtoh？gklintav？genandrangthebellat6:00onthedot.secondslaterthelockonthestreetdoorclickedandshewentuptwoflightsandrangthedoorbellnexttothenaeofsvensson.shehadnoideawhosvenssonightbeorifanysuchpersonevenlivedinthatapartent.

    “hi,plague,”shesaid.

    “wasp.youonlypopinwhenyouneedsoething.”

    asusual,itwasdarkintheapartent；thelightfroasinglelapseepedoutintothehallfrothebedrooheusedasanoffice.thean,whowasthreeyearsolderthansalander,wassixfoottwoandweighed330pounds.sheherselfwasfourfeetelevenandweighed90poundsandhadalwaysfeltlikeaidgetnexttoplague.theplaceselledstuffyandstale.

    “it’sbecauseyounevertakeabath,plague.itsellslikeaonkeyhouseinhere.ifyoueverwentouticouldgiveyousoetipsonsoap.theyhaveitatthekonsu.”

    hegaveherawansile,butsaidnothing.heotionedhertofollowhiintothekitchen.heploppeddownonachairbythekitchentablewithoutturningonalight.theonlyilluinationcaefrothestreetlightbeyondthewindow.

    “iean,iaynotholdtherecordincleaninghouseeither,butifi’vegotoldilkcartonsthatselllikeaggotsibundletheupandputtheout.”

    “i’onadisabilitypension,”hesaid.“i’sociallyinpetent.”

    “sothat’swhythegovernentgaveyouaplacetoliveandfotaboutyou.aren’tyoueverafraidthatyourneighboursaregoingtoplaintotheinspectors？thenyouightfetchupinthefunnyfar.”

    “haveyousoethingfore？”

    salanderunzippedherjacketpocketandhandedhifivethousandkronor.

    “it’sallicanspare.it’syownoney,andican’treallydeductyouasadependant.”

    “whatdoyouwant？”

    “theelectroniuffyoutalkedabouttwoonthsago.didyougetit？”

    hesiledandlaidaboxonthetable.

    “showehowitworks.”

    forthenextfewinutesshelistenedintently.thenshetestedthecuff.plagueightbeasocialinpetent,buthewasunquestionablyagenius.

    vangerwaiteduntilheonceorehadblokvist’sattention.blokvistlookedathiswatchandsaid,“oneperplexingdetail.”

    vangersaid:“iwasbornonnoveber1.whenharrietwaseightshegaveeabirthdaypresent,apressedflower,fraed.”

    vangerwalkedaroundthedeskandpointedtothefirstflower.bluebell.ithadanaateurishounting.

    “thatwasthefirst.igotitin1958.”hepointedtothenextone.“1959.”buttercup.“1960.”daisy.“itbecaeatradition.shewouldakethefraesoetieduringthesuerandsaveituntilybirthday.ialwayshungtheonthewallinthisroo.in1966shedisappearedandthetraditionwasbroken.”

    vangerpointedtoagapintherowoffraes.blokvistfeltthehairsriseonthebackofhisneck.thewallwasfilledwithpressedflowers.

    “1967,ayearaftershedisappeared,ireceivedthisfloweronybirthday.it’saviolet.”

    “howdidthefloweretoyou？”

    “wrappedinwhattheycallgiftpaperandpostedinapaddedenvelopefrostockhol.noreturnaddress.noessage.”

    “youeanthat…”blokvistadeasweepinggesture.

    “precisely.onybirthdayeverydanyear.doyouknowhowthatfeels？it’sdirectedate,preciselyasiftheurdererwantstotorturee.i’veworriedyselfsickoverwhetherharrietighthavebeentakenawaybecausesoeonewantedtogetate.itwasnosecretthatsheandihadaspecialrelationshipandthatithoughtofherasyowndaughter.”

    “sowhatisityouwantetodo？”blokvistsaid.

    whensalanderreturnedthecorollatothegarageundermiltonsecurity,sheadesuretogotothetoiletupstairsintheoffice.sheusedhercardkeyinthedoorandtooktheliftstraightuptothethirdfloortoavoidgoinginthroughtheainentranceonthesecondfloor,wherethedutyofficerworked.sheusedthetoiletandgotacupofcoffeefrotheespressoachihataranskyhadboughtwhenatlonglastherecognisedthatsalanderwouldneverakecoffeejustbecauseitwasexpectedofher.thenshewenttoherofficeandhungherleatherjacketoverthebackofherchair.

    theofficewasa61/2-by-10-footglasscubicle.therewasadeskwithanoldodeldelldesktoppc,atelephone,oneofficechair,aetalwastepaperbasket,andashelf.theshelfcontainedanassortentofdirectoriesandthreeblanknotes.thetwodeskdrawershousedsoeballpoints,paperclips,andanote.onthewindowsillstoodapottedplantwithbrown,witheredleaves.salanderlookedthoughtfullyattheplant,asifitwerethefirsttieshehadseenit,thenshedepositeditfirlyinthewastepaperbasket.

    sheseldohadanythingtodoinherofficeandvisiteditnoorethanhalfadozentiesayear,ainlywhensheneededtositbyherselfandprepareareportjustbeforehandingitin.aranskyhadinsistedthatshehaveherownspace.hisreasoningwasthatshewouldthenfeellikepartofthepanyalthoughsheworkedasafreelancer.shesuspectedthataranskyhopedthatthiswayhewouldhaveachancetokeepaneyeonherandeddleinheraffairs.atfirstshehadbeengivenspacefartherdownthecorridor,inalargerroothatshewasexpectedtosharewithacolleague.butsinceshewasnevertherearanskyfinallyovedherintothecubbyholeattheendofthecorridor.

    salandertookoutthecuff.shelookedatit,editativelybitingherlowerlip.

    itwaspast11:00andshewasaloneonthefloor.shesuddenlyfeltexcruciatinglybored.

    afterawhileshegotupandwalkedtotheendofthehallandtriedthedoortoaransky’soffice.locked.shelookedaround.thechancesofanyourningupinthecorridoraroundidnightondeceber26werealostnonexistent.sheopenedthedoorwithapiratecopyofthepany’scardkey,whichshehadtakenthetroubletoakeseveralyearsbefore.

    aransky’sofficewasspacious:infrontofhisdeskwereguestchairs,andaconferencetablewithrooforeightpeoplewasinthecorner.itwasipeablyneat.shehadnotsnoopedinhisofficeforquitesoetie,butnowthatshewashere…shespentawhileathisdesktobringherselfuptodateregardingthesearchforasuspectedoleinthepany,whichofhercolleagueshadbeenplantedundercoverinafirwhereatheftringwasoperating,andwhateasureshadbeentakeninallsecrecytoprotectaclientwhowasafraidherchildwasindangerofbeingkidnappedbythefather.

    atlastsheputthepapersbackpreciselythewaytheywere,lockedaransky’sdoor,andwalkedhoe.shefeltsatisfiedwithherday.

    “idon’tknohetherwe’llfindoutthetruth,butirefusetogotoygravewithoutgivingitonelasttry,”theoldansaid.“isiplywanttoissionyoutogothroughalltheevidenceonelasttie.”

    “thisiscrazy,”blokvistsaid.

    “whyisitcrazy？”

    “i’veheardenough.henrik,iunderstandyourgrief,butihavetobehonestwithyou.whatyou’reaskingetodoisawasteofytieandyouroney.youareaskingetoconjureupasolutiontoaysterythatthepoliceandexperiencedinvestigatorswithconsiderablygreaterresourceshavefailedtosolvealltheseyears.you’reaskingetosolveacriegettingonforfortyyearsafteritwasitted.howcouldipossiblydothat？”

    “wehaven’tdiscussedyourfee,”vangersaid.

    “thatwon’tbenecessary.”

    “ican’tforceyou,butlistentowhati’offering.frodehasalreadydrawnupacontract.wecannegotiatethedetails,butthecontractissiple,andallitneedsisyoursignature.”

    “henrik,thisisabsurd.ireallydon’tbelieveicansolvetheysteryofharriet’sdisappearance.”

    “aordingtothecontract,youdon’thaveto.allitasksisthatyoudoyourbest.ifyoufail,thenit’sgod’swill,or—ifyoudon’tbelieveinhi—it’sfate.”

    blokvistsighed.hewasfeelingoreandoreunfortableandwantedtoendthisvisittohedeby,butherelented.

    “allright,let’shearit.”

    “iwantyoutoliveandworkhereinhedebyforayear.iwantyoutogothroughtheinvestigativereportonharriet’sdisappearanceonepageatatie.iwantyoutoexaineeverythingwithneweyes.iwantyoutoquestionalltheoldconclusionsexactlythewayaninvestigativereporterwould.iwantyoutolookforsoethingthatiandthepoliceandotherinvestigatorsayhaveissed.”

    “you’reaskingetosetasideylifeandcareertodevoteyselfforawholeyeartosoethingthat’sapletewasteoftie.”

    vangersiled.“astoyourcareer,weightagreethatfortheoentit’ssoewhatonhold.”

    blokvisthadnoanswertothat.

    “iwanttobuyayearofyourlife.giveyouajob.thesalaryisbetterthananyofferyou’llevergetinyourlife.iwillpayyou200,000kronoraonth—that’s2.4illionkronorifyouaeptandstaythewholeyear.”

    blokvistwasastonished.

    “ihavenoillusions.thepossibilityyouwillsueedisinial,butifagainstalloddsyoushouldcracktheysterytheni’offeringabonusofdoublepayent,or4.8illionkronor.let’sbegenerousandrounditofftofiveillion.”

    vangerleanedbackandcockedhishead.

    “icanpaytheoneyintoanybankaountyouwish,anywhereintheworld.youcanalsotaketheoneyincashinasuitcase,soit’suptoyouwhetheryouwanttoreporttheiothetaxauthorities.”

    “thisis…nothealthy,”blokviststaered.

    “whyso？”vangersaidcally.“i’eighty-twoandstillinfullpossessionofyfaculties.ihavealargepersonalfortune；icanspenditanywayiwant.ihavenochildrenandabsolutelynodesiretoleaveanyoneytorelativesidespise.i’veadeylastwillandtestaent；i’llbegivingthebulkofyfortuotheworldwildlifefund.afewpeoplewhoareclosetoewillreceivesignificantaounts—includinganna.”

    blokvistshookhishead.

    “trytounderstande,”vangersaid.“i’aanwho’sgoingtodiesoon.there’sohingintheworldiwanttohave—andthat’sananswertothisquestionthathasplaguedeforhalfylife.idon’texpecttofindtheanswer,butidohaveresourcestoakeonelastattept.isthatunreasonable？ioweittoharriet.andioweittoyself.”

    “you’llbepayingeseveralillionkronorfornothing.allineedtodoissignthecontractandthentwiddleythubsforayear.”

    “youwouldn’tdothat.onthecontrary—you’llworkharderthanyou’veeverworkedinyourlife.”

    “howcanyoubesosure？”

    “becauseicanofferyousoethingthatyoucan’tbuyforanyprice,butwhichyouwantorethananythingintheworld.”

    “andwhatwouldthatbe？”

    vanger’seyesnarrowed.

    “icangiveyouhans-erikwennerstr？.icanprovethathe’saswindler.hehappened,thirty-fiveyearsago,tobeginhiscareerwithe,andicangiveyouhisheadonaplatter.solvetheysteryandyoucanturnyourdefeatincourtintothestoryoftheyear.”

    chapter7

    friday,january3

    erikasethercoffeecuponthetableandstoodbythewindowlookingoutattheviewofgalastan.itwas9:00intheorning.allthesnowhadbeenwashedawaybytherainovernewyear’s.

    “i’vealwayslovedthisview,”shesaid.“anapartentlikethiswouldakeegiveuplivinginsaltsj？baden.”

    “you’vegotthekeys.youcanoveoverfroyourupper-classreserveanytieyouwant,”blokvistsaid.heclosedthesuitcaseandputitbythefrontdoor.

    bergerturnedandgavehiadisbelievinglook.“youcan’tbeserious,mikael,”shesaid.“we’reinourworstcrisisandyou’repackingtogoandliveintjottahejti.”

    “hedestad.acoupleofhoursbytrain.andit’snotforever.”

    “itightaswellbeulanbator.don’tyouseethatitwilllookasifyou’reslinkingoffwithyourtailbetweenyourlegs？”

    “that’spreciselywhatiadoing.besides,ihavetodosoegaoltietoo.”

    christermalwassittingonthesofa.hewasunfortable.itwasthefirsttiesincetheyfoundedmillenniuthathehadseenbergerandblokvistinsuchdisagreeent.overalltheyearstheyhadbeeninseparable.soetiestheyhadfuriousclashes,buttheirarguentswerealwaysaboutbusinessatters,andtheywouldinvariablyresolveallthoseissuesbeforethey

    5

    huggedeachotherandwentbacktotheircorners.ortobed.lastautunhadnotbeenfun,andnowitwasasifagreatgulfhadopenedupbetweenthe.malwonderedifhewaswatchingthebeginningoftheendofmillenniu.

    “idon’thaveachoice,”blokvistsaid.“wedon’thaveachoice.”

    hepouredhiselfacoffeeandsatatthekitchentable.bergershookherheadandsatdownfacinghi.

    “whatdoyouthink,christer？”shesaid.

    hehadbeenexpectingthequestionanddreadingtheoentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastand.hewasthethirdpartner,buttheyallknewthatitwasblokvistandbergerwhoweremillenniu.theonlytietheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.

    “honestly,”malsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tatterwhatithink.”

    heshutup.helovedakingpictures.helovedworkingwithgraphics.hehadneverconsideredhiselfanartist,butheknewhewasadanedgooddesigner.ontheotherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.

    bergerandblokvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.shewascoolandfurious.hewasthinkinghard.

    thisisn’tanarguent,malthought.it’sadivorce.

    “ok,letepresentycaseonelasttie,”blokvistsaid.“thisdoesnoteani’vegivenuponmillenniu.we’vespenttoouchtieworkingourheartsoutforthat.”

    “butnowyouwon’tbeattheoffice—christerandiwillhavetocarrytheload.can’tyouseethat？you’retheonearchingintoself-iposedexile.”

    “that’sthesecondthing.ineedabreak,erika.i’notfunctioninganyore.i’burnedout.apaidsabbaticalinhedestadightbeexactlywhatineed.”

    “thewholethingisidiotic,mikael.youightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”

    “iknow.buti’goingtoget2.4illionforsittingonybacksideforayear,andiwon’tbewastingytie.that’sthethirdthing.roundonewithwennerstr？isover,andheknockedeout.roundtwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkmillenniuforgoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillalwaysknohathe’sbeenupto,foraslongastheagazineexists.”

    “iknohathe’sdoing.i’veseenitintheonthlyadsalesfiguresforthelastsixonths.”

    “that’sexactlywhyihavetogetoutoftheoffice.i’likearedragwavingathi.he’sparanoidasfarasi’concerned.aslongasi’here,he’lljustkeeponing.noehavetoprepareourselvesforroundthree.ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestchanceagainstwennerstr？,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholenewstrategy.wehavetofindsoethingtohaerhiwith.that’llbeyjobthisyear.”

    “iunderstandallthat,”bergersaid.“sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.goabroad,lieonabeachforaonth.checkoutthelovelifeonthecostabrava.relax.goouttosandhanandlookatthewaves.”

    “andwheniebacknothingwillbedifferent.wennerstr？isgoingtocrushmillenniuunlessheisappeasedbyyhavingstooddown.youknowthat.theonlythingwhichightotherwisestophiisifwegetsoethingonhithatwecanuse.”

    “andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindinhedestad？”

    “icheckedthecuttings.wennerstr？didworkatthevangerpanyfro1969to1972.hewasinanageentandwasresponsibleforstrategicplaceents.heleftinahurry.whyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythathenrikvangerdoeshavesoethingonhi？”

    “butifwhathedidhappenedthirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehardtoproveittoday.”

    “vangerproisedtosetoutindetailwhatheknows.he’sobsessedwiththisissinggirl—itseestobetheonl