dinguntilthesmallhoursanddidnotgetupuntillateonEpiphanyDay.Anavyblue,late-modelVolvowasparkedoutsideVanger’shouse.Evenashereachedforthedoorhandle,thedoorwasopenedbyamanonhiswayout.Theyalmostcollided.Themanseemedtobeinahurry.
“Yes?CanIhelpyou?”
“I’mheretoseeHenrikVanger,”Blomkvistsaid.
Theman’seyesbrightened.Hesmiledandstuckouthishand.“YoumustbeMikaelBlomkvist,theonewho’sgoingtohelpHenrikwiththefamilychronicle,right?”
Theyshookhands.VangerhadapparentlybegunspreadingBlomkvist’scoverstory.Themanwasoverweight—theresult,nodoubt,oftoomanyyearsofnegotiatinginofficesandconferencerooms—butBlomkvistnoticedatoncethelikeness,thesimilaritybetweenhisfaceandHarrietVanger’s.
“I’mMartinVanger,”themansaid.“WeletoHedestad.”
“Thankyou.”
“IsawyouonTVawhileago.”
“EverybodyseemstohaveseenmeonTV.”
“Wennerstr?mis…notverypopularinthishouse.”
“Henrikmentionedthat.I’mwaitingtoheartherestofthestory.”
“Hetoldmeafewdaysagothathe’dhiredyou.”MartinVangerlaughed.“HesaiditwasprobablybecauseofWennerstr?mthatyoutookthejobuphere.”
Blomkvisthesitatedbeforedecidingtotellthetruth.“Thatwasoneimportantreason.Buttobehonest,IneededtogetawayfromStockholm,andHedestadcroppedupattherightmoment.AtleastIthinkso.Ican’tpretendthatthecourtcaseneverhappened.Andanyway,I’mgoingtohavetogotoprison.”
MartinVangernodded,suddenlyserious.“Canyouappeal?”
“Itwon’tdoanygood.”
Vangerglancedathiswatch.
“IhavetobeinStockholmtonight,soImusthurryaway.I’llbebackinafewdays.eoverandhavedinner.I’dreallyliketohearwhatactuallywentonduringthattrial.Henrikisupstairs.Gorightin.”
VangerwassittingonasofainhisofficewherehehadtheHedestadCourier,DagensIndustri,SvenskaDagbladet,andbothnationaleveningpapersonthecoffeetable.
“IranintoMartinoutside.”
“Rushingofftosavetheempire,”Vangersaid.“Coffee?”
“Yes,please.”Blomkvistsatdown,wonderingwhyVangerlookedsoamused.
“You’rementionedinthepaper.”
Vangershoved