herroomandopenthewindow?Andwhyshouldanyonelieaboutit?”
Vangershookhishead.Noexplanationpresenteditself.
“Harrietdisappearedsometimearound3:00orshortlythereafter.Thesepicturesgiveanimpressionofwherecertainpeoplewereatthattime.That’swhyIcaneliminateanumberofpeoplefromthelistofsuspects.ForthesamereasonIcanconcludethatsomepeoplewhowerenotinthephotographsatthattimemustbeaddedtothelistofsuspects.”
“Youdidn’tanswermyquestionabouthowyouthinkthebodywasremoved.Irealise,ofcourse,thattheremustbesomeplausibleexplanation.Somesortofmonoldillusionist’strick.”
“Thereareactuallyseveralverypracticalwaysitcouldhavebeendone.Sometimearound3:00thekillerstruck.Heorshepresumablydidn’tuseanysortofweapon—orwewouldhavefoundtracesofblood.I’mguessingthatHarrietwasstrangledandI’mguessingthatithappenedhere—behindthewallinthecourtyard,somewhereoutofthephotographer’slineofsightandinablindspotfromthehouse.There’sapath,ifyouwanttotakeashortcut,totheparsonage—thelastplaceshewasseen—andbacktothehouse.Todaythere’sasmallflowerbedandlawnthere,butinthesixtiesitwasagravelledareausedforparking.AllthekillerhadtodowasopenthebootofacarandputHarrietinside.Whenwebegansearchingtheislandthenextday,nobodywasthinkingthatacrimehadbeenmitted.Wefocusedontheshorelines,thebuildings,andthewoodsclosesttothevillage.”
“Sonobodywascheckingthebootsofcars.”
“Andbythefollowingeveningthekillerwouldhavebeenfreetogetinhiscaranddriveacrossthebridgetohidethebodysomewhereelse.”
“Rightunderthenosesofeveryoneinvolvedinthesearch.Ifthat’sthewayithappened,we’retalkingaboutacold-bloodedbastard.”
Vangergaveabitterlaugh.“YoujustgaveanaptdescriptionofquiteafewmembersoftheVangerfamily.”
Theycontinuedtheirdiscussionoversupperat6:00.Annaservedroastharewithcurrantjellyandpotatoes.Vangerpouredarobustredwine.Blomkviststillhadplentyoftimetomakethelasttrain.Hethoughtitwasabouttimetosumthingsup.
“It’safascinatingstoryyou’vebeentellingme,Iadmitit.ButIstilldon’tknowwhyyouwantedmetohearit