inistandwomen’srightsadvocate.
Ashewashelpingherpreparethecoffee,sheputahandonhisshoulderandaskedhimhowwashedoing.Hetoldherhefeltaslowashehadinlife.
“Getyourselfareallawyernexttime,”shesaid.
“Itprobablywouldn’thavehelpedinthiscase.Butwe’lltalkitallthewaythrough,Sis,someothertimewhenallthedustissettled.”
ShegavehimahugandkissedhimonthecheekbeforetheycarriedouttheChristmascakeandthecoffee.ThenBlomkvistexcusedhimselfandaskedtousethetelephoneinthekitchen.HecalledthelawyerinHedestadandcouldheartheretoothebuzzofvoicesinthebackground.
“MerryChristmas,”Frodesaid.“DareIhopeyouhavemadeupyourmind?”
“Ireallydon’thaveanyimmediateplansandIamcurioustoknowmore.I’lleupthedayafterChristmasifthatsuitsyou.”
“Excellent,excellent.Iamincrediblypleased.Youwillfiveme,I’vegotchildrenandgrandchildrenvisitingandcanhardlyhearmyselfthink.CanIcallyoutomorrowtoagreeonatime?WherecanIreachyou?”
Blomkvistregrettedhisdecisionbeforeevenheleftforhome,butbythenitwastooawkwardtocallandcancel.SoonthemorningofDecember26hewasonthetrainheadingnorth.Hehadadriver’slicense,buthehadneverfelttheneedtoownacar.
Frodewasright,itwasnotalongjourney.AfterUppsalacamethestringofsmallindustrialtownsalongtheNorrlandcoast.Hedestadwasoneofthesmallerones,alittlemorethananhournorthofG?vle.
OnChristmasnighttherehadbeenabigsnowstorm,buttheskieshadnowclearedandtheairwasice-coldwhenBlomkvistalightedatHedestad.Herealisedatoncethathewasn’twearingenoughclothesforwinterinNorrland.FrodeknewwhathelookedlikeandkindlycollectedhimfromtheplatformandledhimstraighttothewarmthofhisMercedes.InthecentreofHedestad,snowclearingwasinfullswing,andFrodewovehiscarefulwaythroughthenarrowstreets.HighbanksofsnowpresentedapicturesquecontrasttoStockholm.Thetownseemedalmostlikeanotherpla,yethewasonlyalittlemorethanthreehoursfromSergelsTindowntownStockholm.Hestoleaglanceatthelawyer:anangularfacewithsparse,bristlywhitehairandthickglassesperchedonanimpressivenose.
“FirsttimeinHedestad?