Weoughttostartchasingdownsourcesrightnow.Buildupthestoryfromthebeginning.Anddoitrightthistime.”
“Ricky—thatstoryisdeadasadoornail.”
Dejected,Bergerrestedherheadonherhands.Whenshespoke,atfirstshedidnotwanttomeetBlomkvist’seyes.
“I’msofuckingangrywithyou.Notbecausethestoryyouwrotewasbaseless—Iwasinonitasmuchasyouwere.Andnotbecauseyou’releavingyourjobaspublisher—that’sasmartdecisioninthissituation.Icangoalongwithmakingitlooklikeaschismorapowerstrugglebetweenyouandme—Iunderstandthelogicwhenit’samatterofmakingWennerstr?mbelieveI’maharmlessbimboandyou’retherealthreat.”Shepausedandnowlookedhimresolutelyintheeye.“ButIthinkyou’remakingamistake.Wennerstr?misn’tgoingtofallforit.He’sgoingtokeepondestroyingMillennium.Theonlydifferenceisthatstartingfromtoday,Ihavetofighthimalone,andyouknowthatyou’reneededmorethaneverontheeditorialboard.OK,I’dlovetowagewaragainstWennerstr?m,butwhatmakesmesocrossisthatyou’reabandoningshipallofasudden.You’releavingmeinthelurchwhenthingsareabsolutelyattheirworstever.”
Blomkvistreachedacrossandstrokedherhair.
“You’renotalone.You’vegotChristerandtherestofthestaffbehindyou.”
“NotJanneDahlman.Bytheway,Ithinkyoumadeamistakehiringhim.He’spetent,buthedoesmoreharmthangood.Idon’ttrusthim.Hewentaroundlookinggleefulaboutyourtroublesallautumn.Idon’tknowifhehopeshecantakeoveryourroleorwhetherit’sjustpersonalchemistrybetweenhimandtherestofthestaff.”
“I’mafraidyou’reright,”Blomkvistsaid.
“SowhatshouldIdo?Firehim?”
“Erika,you’reeditorinchiefandtheseniorshareholderofMillennium.Ifyouhaveto,firehim.”
“We’veneverfiredanyone,Micke.Andnowyou’redumpingthisdecisiononmetoo.It’snofunanymoregoingtotheofficeinthemorning.”
AtthatpointMalmsurprisedthembystandingup.
“Ifyou’regoingtocatchthattrainwe’vegottogetmoving.”Bergerbegantoprotest,butheheldupahand.“Wait,Erika,youaskedmewhatIthought.Well,Ithinkthesituationisshitty.ButifthingsarethewayMikaelsays—thathe’sabouttohitthewall—thenhereallydoeshavetol