ranoidasfarasI’mconcerned.AslongasI’mhere,he’lljustkeeponing.NowwehavetoprepareourselvesforRoundThree.Ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestchanceagainstWennerstr?m,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholenewstrategy.Wehavetofindsomethingtohammerhimwith.That’llbemyjobthisyear.”
“Iunderstandallthat,”Bergersaid.“Sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.Goabroad,lieonabeachforamonth.CheckoutthelovelifeontheCostaBrava.Relax.GoouttoSandhamnandlookatthewaves.”
“AndwhenIebacknothingwillbedifferent.Wennerstr?misgoingtocrushMillenniumunlessheisappeasedbymyhavingstooddown.Youknowthat.Theonlythingwhichmightotherwisestophimisifwegetsomethingonhimthatwecanuse.”
“Andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindinHedestad?”
“Icheckedthecuttings.Wennerstr?mdidworkattheVangerpanyfrom1969to1972.Hewasinmanagementandwasresponsibleforstrategicplacements.Heleftinahurry.WhyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythatHenrikVangerdoeshavesomethingonhim?”
“Butifwhathedidhappenedthirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehardtoproveittoday.”
“Vangerpromisedtosetoutindetailwhatheknows.He’sobsessedwiththismissinggirl—itseemstobetheonlythinghe’sinterestedin,andifthismeanshehastoburnWennerstr?mthenIthinkthere’sagoodchancehe’lldoit.Wecertainlycan’tignoretheopportunity—he’sthefirstpersonwho’ssaidhe’swillingtogoonrecordwithevidenceagainstWennerstr?m.”
“Wecouldn’tuseitevenifyoucamebackwithincontrovertibleproofthatitwasWennerstr?mwhostrangledthegirl.Notaftersomanyyears.He’dmassacreusincourt.”
“Thethoughthadcrossedmymind,butit’snogood:hewaspluggingawayattheStockholmSchoolofEconomicsandhadnoconnectionwiththeVangerpaniesatthetimeshedisappeared.”Blomkvistpaused.“Erika,I’mnotgoingtoleaveMillennium,butit’simportantforittolookasifIhave.YouandChristerhavetogoonrunningthemagazine.Ifyoucan…ifyouhaveachanceto…arrangeacease-firewithWennerstr?m,thendoit.Youcan’tdothatifI’mstillontheeditorialboard.”
“OK,butit’sarottensituation,andIthinkyou’regraspingatstrawsgoingtoHedestad.”
“Haveyouabetteridea?”
Bergershrugged.“