“howdoyouknow…ah,fetthat.anyideawhatheplanstodo？”

    “nix.justonelogicalguess.”

    blokvistthoughtforafewseconds.“theprinter,”heexclaied.

    bergerraisedhereyebrows.

    “ifyou’rekeepingalidontheeditorialoffices,therearen’tanyotherpossibilities.providednoneofhisthugsisplanningtopayyouanighttievisit.”

    blokvistturnedtoberger.“anewprinterforthisissue.now.andcalldraganaransky—iwantsecurityhereatnightforthenextweek.”backtosalander.“thanks.”

    “what’sitworth？”

    “whatdoyouean？”

    “what’sthetipworth？”

    “whatwouldyoulike？”

    “i’dliketodiscussitovercoffee.rightnow.”

    theyetatkaffebaronhornsgatan.salanderlookedsoseriouswhenblokvistsatdownonthebenchnexttoherthathefeltapangofconcern.asusual,shecaestraighttothepoint.

    “ineedtoborrowsoeoney.”

    blokvistgaveheroneofhisostfoolishgrinsandreachedforhiswallet.

    “sure.howuch？”

    “120,000kronor.”

    “steady,steady.”heputhiswalletaway.

    “i’notkidding.ineedtoborrow120,000kronorfor…let’ssaysixweeks.ihaveachancetoakeaninvestent,butidon’thaveanyoneelsetoturnto.you’vegotroughly140,000kronorinyourcurrentaountrightnow.you’llgetyouroneyback.”

    nopointentingonthefactthatsalanderhadhackedhisbankpassword.

    “youdon’thavetoborrowtheoneyfroe,”hereplied.“wehaven’tdiscussedyourshareyet,butit’sorethanenoughtocoverwhatyouwanttoborrow.”

    “myshare？”

    “lisbeth,ihaveaninsanefeetocashinfrohenrikvanger,andwe’regoingtofinalisethedealattheendoftheyear.withoutyou,therewouldn’tbeaeandmillenniuwouldhavegoneunder.i’planningtosplitthefeewithyou.fifty-fifty.”

    salandergavehiasearchinglook.afrownhadappearedonherbrow.blokvistwasusedtohersilences.finallysheshookherhead.

    “idon’twantyouroney.”

    “but…”

    “idon’twantonesinglekronafroyou,unlessitesintheforofpresentsonybirthday.”

    “etothinkofit,idon’tevenknohenyourbirthdayis.”

    “you’reajournalist.checkitout.”

    “i’serious,lisbeth.aboutsplittingtheoney.”

    “i’serioustoo.ionlywanttoborrowit,andineedittoorrow.”

    shedidn’tevenaskhowuchhersharewouldbe.“i’llbehappytogotothebankwithyoutodayandlendyoutheaountyouneed.butattheendoftheyearlet’shaveanothertalkaboutyourshare.”hehelduphishand.“andbytheway,whenisyourbirthday？”

    “onwalpurgisnight,”shereplied.“veryfitting,don’tyouthink？that’swhenigadaroundwithabroobetweenylegs.”

    shelandedinzurichat7:30intheeveningandtookataxitothematterhornhotel.shehadedaroounderthenaeofirenenesser,andsheidentifiedherselfusinganorwegianpassportinthatnae.irenenesserhadshoulder-lengthblondehair.salanderhadboughtawiginstockholandused10,000kronorofwhatshehadborrowedfroblokvisttobuytwopassportsthroughoneofthecontactsinplague’sinternationalwork.

    shewenttoherroo,lockedthedoor,andgotundressed.shelayonthebedandlookedupattheceilingintheroothatcost1,600kronorpernight.shefeltepty.shehadalreadyrunthroughhalfthesushe’dborrowed,andeventhoughshehadaddedineverykronaofherownsavings,shewasstillonatightbudget.shestoppedthinkingandfellasleepalostatonce.

    sheawokejustafter5:00intheorning.sheshoweredandspentalongtieaskingthetattooonherneckwithathicklayerofskin-colouredlotionandpowderoverit.theseconditeonherchecklistwastoakeanappointentatthebeautysaloninthelobbyofasignificantlyoreexpensivehotelfor6:30thatorning.sheboughtanotherblondewig,thisoneinapage-boystyle,andthenshehadaanicure,gettingpinknailsattachedtoherownchewedones.shealsogotfalseeyelashes,orepowder,rouge,andfinallylipstickandotherake-up.nochangefro8,000kronor.

    shepaidwithacreditcardinthenaeofmonicasholes,andsheshowedtheherbritishpassportwiththatnae.

    nextstopwascaille’shouseoffashiondownthestreet.afteranhourshecaeoutwearingblackboots,asand-colouredskirtwithatchingblouse,blacktights,awaist-lengthjacket,andaberet.everyiteboreanexpensivedesignerlabel.shehadletthesalesgirlaketheselection.shehadalsochosenanexclusiveleatherbriefcaseandasallsasonitesuitcase.thecrowningtoucheswerediscreetearringsandasiplegoldchainaroundherneck.thecreditcardhadbeendebited44,000kronor.

    forthefirsttieinherlifesalanderhadabustlihatadeher—whensheglancedatherselfinthefull-lengthirror—catchherbreath.thebreastswereasfakeasmonicasholes’identity.theywereadeoflatexandhadbeenboughtincopenhagenwherethetransvestitesshopped.

    shewasreadyforbattle.

    justafter9:00shewalkedtwoblockstothevenerableziertalhotel,wheresheedarooinmonicasholes’nae.shegaveageneroustiptoaboywhocarrieduphersuitcase.thesuitewasasallone,costing22,000kronoraday.shehadeditforonenight.whenshewasaloneshetookalookaround.shehadadazzlingviewoflakezurich,whichdidn’tinterestherintheleast.butshedidspendclosetofiveinutesexainingherselfintheirror.shesawatotalstranger.big-bustedmonicasholesinablondepage-boywig,wearingoreake-upthanlisbethsalanderdreaedofusinginawholeonth.shelooked…different.

    at9:30shehadbreakfastinthehotelbar:twocupsofcoffeeandabagelwithja.thecostwas210kronor.arethesepeoplesoftinthehead？

    justbefore10:00monicasholessetdownhercoffeecup,openedherobile,andpunchedinthenuberofaodeuplinkinhawaii.afterthreerings,thehandshakingtonebegan.theodewasconnected.monicasholesrepliedbypunchinginasix-digitcodeonherobileandtextingaessagecontaininginstructionstostartaprograethatsalanderhadwrittenespeciallyforthispurpose.

    inhonolulutheprograecaetolifeonananonyoushoepageonaserverthatwasofficiallylocatedattheuniversity.theprograewassiple.itsonlyfunctionwastosendinstructionstostartanotherprograeinanotherserver,whichinthiscasewasaperfectlyordinaryercialispofferinginterservicesinholland.thefunctionofthatprograe,inturn,wastolookfortheirroredharddrivebelongingtohans-erikwennerstr？andtakeandoftheprograethatshowedthecontentsofhisapproxiately3,000bankaountsaroundtheworld.

    therewasonlyoneaountofanyinterest.salanderhadnotedthatwennerstr？lookedattheaountacoupleoftieseachweek.ifheturnedonhisputerandlookedatthatparticularfile,everythingwouldappeartobenoral.theprograeshowedsallchanges,whichweretobeexpected,basedonnoralfluctuationsintheaountduringthepastsixonths.ifduringthenextforty-eighthourswennerstr？shouldgoinandasktohavethefundspaidoutorovedfrotheaount,theprograewoulddutifullyreportthatithadbeendone.inreality,thechangewouldhaveourredonlyontheirroredharddriveinholland.

    monicasholesswitchedoffherobiletheoentsheheardfourshorttonesconfiringthattheprograehadstarted.

    shelefttheziertalhotelandwalkedovertobankhausergeneral,acrossthestreet,whereshehadadeanappointenttoseeherrwagner,thegeneralanager,at10:00.shewastherethreeinutesaheadofschedule,andshespentthewaitingtieposinginfrontofthesurveillancecaera,whichtookherpictureasshewalkedintothedepartentwithofficesfordiscreetprivateconsultations.

    “ineedsoeassistancewithanuberoftransactions,”shesaidinoxfordenglish.whensheopenedherbriefcase,sheletdropapenfrotheziertalhotel,andherrwagnerpolitelyretrieveditforher.shegavehianarchsileandwroteanaountnuberonthenotepadonthedeskinfrontofher.

    herrwagnerpigeonholedherasthespoileddaughter,orpossiblyistress,ofsoebigshot.

    “thereareanuberofaountsatthebankofkroenenfeldinthecayanislands.autoatictransfercanbedonebysequentialclearingcodes,”shesaid.

    “fr？uleinsholes,naturallyyouhavealltherequiredclearingcodes？”heasked.

    “abernaturlich,”sherepliedwithsuchaheavyaentthatitwasobviousshehadonlyschool-levelgeran.

    shestartedrecitingseveralseriesofsixteen-digitnuberswithoutoncereferringtoanypapers.herrwagnersawthatitwasgoingtobealongorning,butfora4percentissiononthetransactions,hewaspreparedtoskiplunch,andhewasgoingtohavetorevisehispigeonholeforfr？uleinsholes.

    shedidnotleavebankhausergeneraluntiljustpastnoon,slightlylaterthanplanned,andshewalkedbacktotheziertal.sheputinanappearanceatthefrontdeskbeforeshewentuptoherrooandtookofftheclothesshehadbought.shekeptonthelatexbreastsbutreplacedthepage-boywigwithirenenesser’sshoulder-lengthblondehair.sheputonorefailiarclothes:bootswithstilettoheels,blacktrousers,asipleshirt,andaniceblackleatherjacketfromalungsbodeninstockhol.shestudiedherselfintheirror.notunkeptbyanyeans,butshewasnolongeranheiress.beforeirenenesserlefttheroo,shesortedthroughanuberofbonds,whichsheplacedinsideathinportfolio.

    at1:05,afewinutesbehindschedule,shewentintobankdorffann,aboutseventyyardsawayfrobankhausergeneral.irenenesserhadadeanappointentinadvancewithaherrhasselann.sheapologisedforbeinglate.shespokeipeablegeranwithanorwegianaent.

    “noprobleatall,fr？ulein,”herrhasselannsaid.“howcanibeofservice？”

    “iwouldliketoopenanaount.ihaveanuberofprivatebondsthati’dliketoconvert.”

    irenenesserplacedherportfolioonthedeskinfrontofhi.

    herrhasselannexainedthecontents,hastilyatfirst,andthenoreslowly.heraisedaneyebrowandsiledpolitely.

    sheopenedfivenuberedaounts,whichshecouldaessviatheinterandwhichwereownedbyanapparentlyanonyouspost-office-boxpanyingibraltar.abrokerhadsettheupforherfor50,000kronoroftheoneyshehadborrowedfroblokvist.shecashedinfiftyofthebondsanddepositedtheoneyintheaounts.eachbondwasworththeequivalentofoneillionkronor.

    herbusinessatthebankdorffannalsotookoretiethanexpected,sonowshewasevenorebehindonherschedule.shehadnochancetotakecareofherfinaltransactionsbeforethebanksclosedfortheday.soirenenesserreturnedtothematterhornhotel,whereshespentanhourhangingaroundtoestablishherpresence.butshehadaheadacheandwenttobedearly.sheboughtsoeaspirinatthefrontdeskandorderedawake-upcallfor8:00a..thenshewentbacktoherroo.

    itwascloseto5:00p..,andallthebanksineuropewereclosedforbusiness.butthebanksinnorthandsouthaericawereopen.shebootedupherpoweranduplinkedtothethroughherobile.shespentanhoureptyingthenuberedaountsshehadopenedatbankdorffannearlierintheday.

    shedividedtheoneyupintosallaountsandusedittopayinvoicesforalargenuberoffictionalpaniesaroundtheworld.whenshewasdone,theoneyhadstrangelyenoughbeentransferredbacktothebankofkroenenfeldinthecayanislands,butthistietoanentirelydifferentaountthantheonefrowhichithadbeenwithdrawnearlierthatday.

    irenenesserconsideredthisfirststagetobesecureandalostipossibletotrace.sheadeonepayentfrotheaount:thesuofnearlyoneillionkronorwasdepositedintoanaountlinkedtoacreditcardthatshehadinherwallet.theaountwasownedbywaspenterprises,registeredingibraltar.

    severalinuteslateragirlwithblondepage-boyhairleftthematterhornbyadoorintothehotelbar.monicasholeswalkedtotheziertalhotel,noddedpolitelytothedeskclerk,andtooktheliftuptoherroo.

    thereshetookhertieputtingonmonicasholes’batunifor,touchingupherake-up,andapplyinganextralayerofskincreatothetattoobeforeshewentdowntothehotelrestaurantandhadaninsanelydeliciousfishdinner.sheorderedabottleofvintagewihatshehadneverheardofbeforethoughitcost1,200kronor,drankoneglass,andnonchalantlylefttherestbeforeshewentintothehotelbar.sheleftabsurdtips,whichcertainlyadethestaffnoticeher.

    shespentquiteawhileallowingherselftobepickedupbyadrunkyoungitalianwithanaristocraticnaewhichshedidnotbothertoreeber.theysharedtwobottlesofchapagne,ofwhichshedrankalostoneglass.

    around11:00herintoxicatedsuitorleanedforwardandboldlysqueezedherbreast.sheovedhishanddowntothetable,feelingpleased.hedidnotseetohavenoticedthathewassqueezingsoftlatex.attiestheyweresoloudthattheycausedacertainaountofirritationaongtheotherguests.justbeforeidnight,whenmonicasholesnoticedthatahallporterwaskeepingasterneyeonthe,shehelpedheritalianboyfrienduptohisroo.

    whenhewenttothebathroo,shepouredonelastglassofwine.sheopenedafoldedpieceofpaperandspikedthewinewithacrushedrohypnolsleepingtablet.hepassedoutinaiserableheaponthebedwithinainuteaftershedrankatoastwithhi.sheloosenedhistie,pulledoffhisshoes,anddrewacoveroverhi.shewipedthebottleclean,thenwashedtheglassesinthebathrooandwipedtheofftoobeforegoingbacktoherroo.

    monicasholeshadbreakfastinherrooat6:00andcheckedoutoftheziertalat6:55.beforeleavingherroo,shespentfiveinuteswipingofffingerprintsfrothedoorhandles,wardrobes,toilet,telephone,andotherobjectsintheroothatshehadtouched.

    irenenessercheckedoutofthematterhornaround8:30,shortlyafterthewake-upcall.shetookataxiandleftherluggageinalockerattherailwaystation.thenshespentthenextfewhoursvisitingnineprivatebanks,whereshedistributedsoeoftheprivatebondsfrothecayanislands.by3:00intheafternoonshehadconvertedabout10percentofthebondsintocash,whichshedepositedinthirtynuberedaounts.therestofthebondsshebundledupandputinasafe-depositbox.

    irenenesserwouldneedtoakeseveralorevisitstozurich,buttherewasnoiediatehurry.

    at4:30thatafternoonirenenessertookataxitotheairport,whereshewentintotheladies’rooandcutupmonicasholes’passportintolittlepieces,flushingthedownthetoilet.thecreditcardshealsocutupandputthebitsinfivedifferentrubbishbins,andthescissorstoo.aftersepteber11itwasnotagoodideatoattractattentionbyhavinganysharpobjectsinyourbaggage.

    irenenessertooklufthansaflightgd890toosloandcaughttheairportbustotheoslotrainstation,whereshewentintotheladies’rooandsortedthroughherclothes.sheplacedallitesbelongingtothemonicasholespersona—thepage-boywigandthedesignerclothes—inthreeplasticbagsandtossedtheintothreedifferentrubbishcontainersandwastebasketsinthetrainstation.sheputtheeptysasonitesuitcaseinanunlockedlocker.thegoldchainandearringsweredesignerjewellerythatcouldbetraced；theydisappeareddownadraininthestreetoutsidethestation.

    afteraoentofanxioushesitation,irenenesserdecidedtokeepthefakelatexbreasts.

    bythenshedidnothaveuchtieandtookonsoefuelintheforofahaburgerfromcdonald’swhileshetransferredthecontentsoftheluxuryleatherbriefcasetohertravelbag.whensheleft,theeptybriefcasereainedunderthetable.sheboughtalattetogoatakioskandrantocatchthenighttraintostockhol.shearrivedasthedoorswereclosing.shehadedaprivatesleepingberth.

    whenshelockedthedoortoherpartent,shecouldfeelthatforthefirsttieintwodays,heradrenalinelevelshadreturnedtonoral.sheopenedthepartentwindowanddefiedtheno-sokingregulations.shestoodtheresippingathercoffeeasthetrainrolledoutofoslo.

    sheranthroughherchecklisttobesurethatshehadfottennodetail.afteraoentshefrownedandruagedthroughherjacketpockets.shetookouttheplientarypenfrotheziertalhotelandstudieditforseveralinutesbeforeshetosseditoutofthewindow.

    afterfifteeninutesshecreptintobedandfellasleep.

    epilogue:finalaudit

    thursday,noveber27–tuesday,deceber30

    millenniu’sspecialreportonhans-erikwennerstr？tookupallofforty-sixpagesoftheagazineandexplodedlikeatiebobthelastweekofnoveber.theainstoryappearedunderthejointbylineofmikaelblokvistanderikaberger.forthefirstfewhourstheediadidnotknowhowtohandlethescoop.asiilarstoryjustayearearlierhadresultedinblokvistbeingconvictedoflibel,andithadalsoapparentlyresultedinhisbeingdisissedfromillenniu.forthatreasonhiscredibilitywasregardedasratherlow.nowthesaeagazinewasbackwithastorybythesaejournalistcontaininguchoreseriousallegationsthanthearticleforwhichhehadrunintosouchtrouble.soepartsofthereportweresoabsurdthattheydefiedonsense.theswedishediasatandwaited,filledwithistrust.

    butthateveningsheontv4ledoffwithaneleven-inutesuaryofthehighlightsinb