sbutitseemedtobeinthemediaalmostdaily.HesavedadozenpanyanalysesandthensearchedforFrode,andHenrikandMartinVanger.
MartinVangerappeareddiligentinhiscapacityasCEOoftheVangerCorporation.Frodekeptalowprofile;hewasontheboardoftheHedestadCountryClubandactiveintheRotaryClub.HenrikVangerappeared,withoneexception,onlyinarticlesgivingthebackgroundofthepany.TheHedestadCourierhadpublishedatributetotheformermagnateonhiseightiethbirthdaytwoyearsago,anditincludedashortsketch.Heputtogetherafolderoffiftypagesorso.Thenfinallyheemptiedhisdesk,sealedthecartons,and,havingnoideawhetherhewouldeback,wenthome.
SalanderspentChristmasEveatthe?ppelvikenNursingHomeinUpplands-V?sby.Shehadbroughtpresents:abottleofeaudetoilettebyDiorandanEnglishfruitcakefrom?hlénsdepartmentstore.Shedrankcoffeeasshewatchedtheforty-six-year-oldwomanwhowithclumsyfingerswastryingtountietheknotontheribbon.Salanderhadtendernessinhereyes,butthatthisstrangewomanwashermotherneverceasedtoamazeher.Shecouldrecognisenottheslightestresemblanceinlooksornature.
Hermothergaveupthestruggleandlookedhelplesslyatthepackage.Itwasnotoneofherbetterdays.Salanderpushedacrossthescissorsthathadbeeninplainsightonthetableandhermothersuddenlyseemedtowakeup.
“YoumustthinkI’mstupid.”
“No,Mum.You’renotstupid.Butlifeisunfair.”
“Haveyouseenyoursister?”
“Notinalongtime.”
“Sheneveres.”
“Iknow,Mum.Shedoesn’tseemeeither.”
“Areyouworking?”
“Yes.I’mdoingfine.”
“Wheredoyoulive?Idon’tevenknowwhereyoulive.”
“IliveinyouroldapartmentonLundagatan.I’velivedthereforseveralyears.Ihadtotakeoverthepayments.”
“InthesummertimemaybeIcaneandseeyou.”
“Ofcourse.Inthesummertime.”
HermotheratlastgottheChristmaspresentopenandsniffedatthearoma,enchanted.“Thankyou,Camilla,”shesaid.
“Lisbeth.I’mLisbeth.”
Hermotherlookedembarrassed.SalandersaidthattheyshouldgototheTVroom.
BlomkvistspentthehouroftheDisneyspecialonChristmasEvewithhisdaughterPernillaat