becausehecouldnotstayawayfromErikaBerger.Hehadneverliedabouthisfeelingsforhertohiswife,Monica,butshehadthoughtitwouldendwhentheymarriedandtheirdaughterwasborn.AndBergerhadalmostsimultaneouslymarriedGregerBeckman.Blomkvisttoohadthoughtitwouldend,andforthefirstyearsofhismarriageheandBergerhadonlyseeneachotherprofessionally.ThentheystartedMillenniumandwithinafewweeksalltheirgoodintentionshaddissolved,andonelateeveningtheyhadfurioussexonherdesk.ThatledtoatroublesomeperiodinwhichBlomkvistwantedverymuchtolivewithhisfamilyandseehisdaughtergrowup,butatthesametimehewashelplesslydrawntoBerger.JustasSalanderhadguessed,itwashiscontinualinfidelitythatdrovehiswifetoleave.
Strangelyenough,Beckmanseemedtoaepttheirrelationship.BergerhadalwaysbeenopenaboutherfeelingsforMikael,andshetoldherhusbandassoonastheystartedhavingsexagain.Maybeittookthesoulofanartisttohandlesuchasituation,someonesowrappedupinhisowncreativity,orpossiblyjustwrappedupinhimself,thathedidnotrebelwhenhiswifesleptwithanotherman.SheevendividedupherholidaysoshecouldspendtwoweekswithherloverinhissummercabinatSandhamn.BlomkvistdidnotthinkveryhighlyofBeckman,andhehadneverunderstoodBerger’sloveforhim.Buthewasgladthatheaeptedthatshecouldlovetwomenatthesametime.
Blomkvistcouldnotsleep,andat4:00hegaveup.Hewenttothekitchenandreadthecourtjudgementonemoretimefrombeginningtoend.HavingthedocumentinhishandhehadasensethattherehadbeensomethingalmostfatefulaboutthemeetingatArholma.HecouldneverbesurewhetherLindberghadtoldhimthedetailsofWennerstr?m’sswindlesimplyforthesakeofagoodstorybetweentoastsintheprivacyofhisboat’scabinorwhetherhehadreallywantedthestorytobemadepublic.
Hetendedtobelievethefirst.ButitmayhavebeenthatLindberg,forhisownpersonalorbusinessreasons,hadwantedtodamageWennerstr?m,andhehadseizedtheopportunityofhavingacaptivejournalistonboard.LindberghadbeensoberenoughtoinsistonBlomkvisttreatinghimasananonymoussource.FromthatmomentLindbergcouldsaywhatheliked,becausehisfriendwouldneverbeabletodisclos