hadhintedatamurder.
“ItwasSeptember24,1966.Harrietwassixteenandhadjustbegunhersecondyearatprepschool.ItwasaSaturday,anditturnedintotheworstdayofmylife.I’vegoneovertheeventssomanytimesthatIthinkIcanaountforwhathappenedineveryminuteofthatday—exceptthemostimportantthing.”
Hemadeasweepinggesture.“Hereinthishouseagreatnumberofmyfamilyhadgathered.Itwastheloathsomeannualdinner.Itwasatraditionwhichmyfather’sfatherintroducedandwhichgenerallyturnedintoprettydetestableaffairs.Thetraditioncametoanendintheeighties,whenMartinsimplydecreedthatalldiscussionsaboutthebusinesswouldtakeplaceatregularboardmeetingsandbyvoting.That’sthebestdecisionheevermade.”
“YousaidthatHarrietwasmurdered…”
“Wait.Letmetellyouwhathappened.ItwasaSaturday,asIsaid.Itwasalsothedayoftheparty,withtheChildren’sDayparadethatwasarrangedbythesportsclubinHedestad.Harriethadgoneintothetownduringthedayandwatchedtheparadewithsomeofherschoolfriends.ShecamebackheretoHedebyIslandjustafter2:00intheafternoon.Dinnerwassupposedtobeginat5:00,andshewasexpectedtotakepartalongwiththeotheryoungpeopleinthefamily.”
Vangergotupandwentovertothewindow.HemotionedBlomkvisttojoinhim,andpointed.
“At2:15,afewminutesafterHarrietcamehome,adramaticaidentourredoutthereonthebridge.AmancalledGustavAronsson,brotherofafarmerat?sterg?rden—asmallholdingonHedebyIsland—turnedontothebridgeandcrashedhead-onwithanoiltruck.Evidentlybothweregoingtoofastandwhatshouldhavebeenaminorcollisionprovedacatastrophe.Thedriverofthetruck,presumablyinstinctively,turnedhiswheelawayfromthecar,hittherailingofthebridgeandthetankerflippedover;itendedupacrossthebridgewithitstrailerhangingovertheedge.Oneoftherailingshadbeendrivenintotheoiltankandflammableheatingoilbeganspurtingout.InthemeantimeAronssonsatpinnedinsidehiscar,screaminginpain.Thetankerdriverwasalsoinjuredbutmanagedtoscrambleoutofhiscabin.”
Theoldmanwentbacktohischair.
“TheaidentactuallyhadnothingtodowithHarriet.Butitwassignificantinacrucialway.Ashamblesensue