dbeassignedtotakecareofherinterestsandassetsuntilshecameofage.ThistrusteewasAdvokatPalmgrenwho,inspiteofaratherdifficultstart,hadsueededwherepsychiatristsanddoctorshadfailed.Graduallyhewonnotonlyacertainamountoftrustbutalsoamodestamountofwarmthfromthegirl.
Whensheturnedfifteen,thedoctorshadmoreorlessagreedthatshewasnot,afterall,dangerouslyviolent,nordidsherepresentanyimmediatedangertoherself.Herfamilyhadbeencategorisedasdysfunctional,andshehadnorelativeswhocouldlookafterherwelfare,soitwasdecidedthatLisbethSalandershouldbereleasedfromthepsychiatrilinicforchildreninUppsalaandeasedbackintosocietybywayofafosterfamily.
Thathadnotbeenaneasyjourney.Sheranawayfromthefirstfosterfamilyafteronlytwoweeks.Thesecondandthirdfosterfamiliesfellbythewaysideinquicksuession.AtthatpointPalmgrenhadaseriousdiscussionwithher,explainingbluntlythatifshepersistedonthispathshewouldbeinstitutionalisedagain.Thisthreathadtheeffectthatsheaeptedfosterfamilynumberfour—anelderlycouplewholivedinMidsommarkransen.
Butitdidnotmean,however,thatshebehavedherself.Attheageofseventeen,Salanderwasarrestedbythepoliceonfouroasions;twiceshewassointoxicatedthatsheendedupintheemergencyroom,andonceshewasplainlyundertheinfluenceofnarcotics.Ononeoftheseoasionsshewasfounddeaddrunk,withherclothesindisarray,inthebackseatofacarparkedatS?derM?larstrand.Shewaswithanequallydrunkandmucholderman.
Thelastarrestourredthreeweeksbeforehereighteenthbirthday,whenshe,perfectlysober,kickedamalepassengerintheheadinsidethegatesoftheGamlaStantunnelbanastation.Shewaschargedwithassaultandbattery.Salanderclaimedthatthemanhadgropedher,andhertestimonywassupportedbywitnesses.Theprosecutordismissedthecase.Butherbackgroundwassuchthatthedistrictcourtorderedapsychiatricevaluation.Sincesherefused,aswashercustom,toansweranyquestionsortoparticipateintheexaminations,thedoctorsconsultedbytheNationalBoardofHealthandWelfarehandeddownanopinionbasedon“observationsofthepatient.”Itwasunclearpreciselywhatcouldbeobservedwhenitwasama