’vealreadytakenabeatingontheadsrevenue.Howdiditgowiththeputerpany,bytheway?”
Shesighed.“Theytoldmethismorningthattheydidn’twanttotakespaceinthenextissue.”
“Wennerstr?mhasachunkofstockinthatpany,soit’snoaident.”
“Wecanscareupsomenewclients.Wennerstr?mmaybeabigwheel,buthedoesn’towneverythinginSweden,andwehaveourcontacts.”
Blomkvistputanarmaroundherandpulledherclose.
“Somedaywe’regoingtonailHerrWennerstr?msohardWallStreetisgoingtojumpoutofitssocks.ButtodayMillenniumhastogetoutofthespotlight.”
“Iknowallthat,butIdon’tlikeingacrossasafuckingbitch,andyou’rebeingforcedintoadisgustingsituationifwepretendthatthere’ssomesortofdivisionbetweenyouandme.”
“Ricky,aslongasyouandItrusteachotherwe’vegotachance.Wehavetoplayitbyear,andrightnowit’stimetoretreat.”
Shereluctantlyadmittedthattherewasadepressinglogictowhathesaid.
CHAPTER4
Monday,December23–Thursday,December26
Bergerstayedovertheweekend.Theygotuponlytogotothebathroomortogetsomethingtoeat,buttheyhadnotonlymadelove.Theyhadlainheadtofootforhoursandtalkedaboutthefuture,weighingupthepossibilities,andtheodds.WhendawncameonMondaymorningitwasthedaybeforeChristmasEveandshekissedhimgoodbye—untilnexttime—anddrovehome.
BlomkvistspentMondaywashingdishesandcleaningtheapartment,thenwalkingdowntotheofficeandclearingouthisdesk.Hehadnointentionofbreakingtieswiththemagazine,buthehadeventuallyconvincedBergerthathehadtobeseparatedfromthemagazineforatime.Hewouldworkfromhome.
TheofficewasclosedfortheChristmasholidaysandallhiscolleaguesweregone.Hewasweedingthroughtraysofpapersandpackingsincartonstotakeawaywhenthetelephonerang.
“I’mlookingforMikaelBlomkvist,”saidahopefulbutunfamiliarvoiceontheline.
“Speaking.”
“Fivemeforbotheringyoulikethisunannounced,sotospeak.MynameisDirchFrode.”Blomkvistnotedthenameandthetime.“I’malawyer,andIrepresentaclientwhowouldverymuchliketohaveatalkwithyou.”
“That’sfine,pleaseaskyourclienttocallme.”
“