dbeenplantedundercoverinafirmwhereatheftringwasoperating,andwhatmeasureshadbeentakeninallsecrecytoprotectaclientwhowasafraidherchildwasindangerofbeingkidnappedbythefather.
Atlastsheputthepapersbackpreciselythewaytheywere,lockedArmansky’sdoor,andwalkedhome.Shefeltsatisfiedwithherday.
“Idon’tknowwhetherwe’llfindoutthetruth,butIrefusetogotomygravewithoutgivingitonelasttry,”theoldmansaid.“Isimplywanttomissionyoutogothroughalltheevidenceonelasttime.”
“Thisiscrazy,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Whyisitcrazy?”
“I’veheardenough.Henrik,Iunderstandyourgrief,butIhavetobehonestwithyou.Whatyou’reaskingmetodoisawasteofmytimeandyourmoney.Youareaskingmetoconjureupasolutiontoamysterythatthepoliceandexperiencedinvestigatorswithconsiderablygreaterresourceshavefailedtosolvealltheseyears.You’reaskingmetosolveacrimegettingonforfortyyearsafteritwasmitted.HowcouldIpossiblydothat?”
“Wehaven’tdiscussedyourfee,”Vangersaid.
“Thatwon’tbenecessary.”
“Ican’tforceyou,butlistentowhatI’moffering.Frodehasalreadydrawnupacontract.Wecannegotiatethedetails,butthecontractissimple,andallitneedsisyoursignature.”
“Henrik,thisisabsurd.Ireallydon’tbelieveIcansolvethemysteryofHarriet’sdisappearance.”
“Aordingtothecontract,youdon’thaveto.Allitasksisthatyoudoyourbest.Ifyoufail,thenit’sGod’swill,or—ifyoudon’tbelieveinHim—it’sfate.”
Blomkvistsighed.HewasfeelingmoreandmoreunfortableandwantedtoendthisvisittoHedeby,butherelented.
“Allright,let’shearit.”
“IwantyoutoliveandworkhereinHedebyforayear.IwantyoutogothroughtheinvestigativereportonHarriet’sdisappearanceonepageatatime.Iwantyoutoexamineeverythingwithneweyes.Iwantyoutoquestionalltheoldconclusionsexactlythewayaninvestigativereporterwould.IwantyoutolookforsomethingthatIandthepoliceandotherinvestigatorsmayhavemissed.”
“You’reaskingmetosetasidemylifeandcareertodevotemyselfforawholeyeartosomethingthat’sapletewasteoftime.”
Vangersmiled.“Astoyourcareer,wemightagreethatforthemomenti