thehomeofhisex-wife,Monica,andhernewhusbandinSollentuna.AfterdiscussionswithhermothertheyhadagreedtogivePernillaaniPod,anMP3playerhardlybiggerthanamatchboxwhichcouldstoreherhugeCDcollection.
Fatheranddaughterspentthetimetogetherinherroomupstairs.Pernilla’sparentsweredivorcedwhenshewasfive,andshehadhadanewfathersinceshewasseven.Pernillacametoseehimaboutonceamonthandhadweek-longholidayswithhiminSandhamn.Whentheyspenttimetogethertheyusuallygotalongwell,butBlomkvisthadlethisdaughterdecidehowoftenshewantedtoseehim,themoresoafterhermotherremarried.Therehadbeenacoupleofyearsinherearlyteenswhencontactalmoststopped,anditwasonlyinthepasttwoyearsthatsheseemedtowanttoseehimmoreoften.
Shehadfollowedthetrialinthefirmbeliefthatthingswerejustasherfathersaid:hewasinnocent,buthecouldnotproveit.
Shetoldhimaboutasort-ofboyfriendwhowasinanotherclass,andshesurprisedhimbysayingthatshehadjoinedachurch.Blomkvistrefrainedfromment.
HewasinvitedtostayfordinnerbuthewasexpectedwithhissisterandherfamilyoutintheyuppiesuburbofSt?ket.
ThatmorninghehadalsohadaninvitationtocelebrateChristmasEvewiththeBeckmansinSaltsj?baden.Hesaidno,butthankyou,certainthattherewasalimittoBeckman’sindulgenceandquitesurethathehadnoambitiontofindoutwhatthatlimitmightbe.
InsteadhewasknockingonthedoorwhereAnnikaBlomkvist,nowAnnikaGiannini,livedwithherItalian-bornhusbandandtheirtwochildren.Withaplatoonofherhusband’srelatives,theywereabouttocarvetheChristmasham.Duringdinnerheansweredquestionsaboutthetrialandreceivedmuchwell-meaningandquiteuselessadvice.
Theonlyonewhohadnothingtosayabouttheverdictwashissister,althoughshewastheonlylawyerintheroom.ShehadworkedasclerkofadistrictcourtandasanassistantprosecutorforseveralyearsbeforesheandthreecolleaguesopenedalawfirmoftheirownwithofficesonKungsholmen.Shespecialisedinfamilylaw,andwithoutBlomkvisthavingtakenstockofitshappening,hislittlesisterbegantoappearinnewspapersasrepresentingbatteredorthreatenedwomen,andonpaneldiscussionsonTVasafem