turnedonthecoffeemakerandvanishedupstairsforafewminutes.Whenshecamebackdown,shehadputonjeansandacheckflannelshirt.
“Iwasstartingtothinkyouwerenevergoingtocall.”
“Ishouldhaverungfirst,butIsawyourlightwasonandcameoveronimpulse.”
“I’veseenthelightsonallnightatyourplace.Andyou’reoftenoutwalkingaftermidnight.You’reanightowl?”
Blomkvistshrugged.“It’sturnedoutthatway.”Helookedatseveraltextsstackedontheedgeofthekitchentable.“Doyoustillteach?”
“No,asheadmistressIdon’thavetime.ButIusedtoteachhistory,religion,andsocialstudies.AndIhaveafewyearsleft.”
“Left?”
Shesmiled.“I’mfifty-six.I’llberetiringsoon.”
“Youdon’tlookadayoverfifty,morelikeinyourforties.”
“Veryflattering.Howoldareyou?”
“Well,overforty,”Blomkvistsaidwithasmile.
“Andyouwerejusttwentytheotherday.Howfastitallgoes.Life,thatis.”
CeciliaVangerservedthecoffeeandaskedifhewashungry.Hesaidthathehadalreadyeaten,whichwaspartlytrue.Hedidnotbotherwithcookingandateonlysandwiches.Buthewasnothungry.
“Thenwhydidyoueover?Isittimetoaskmethosequestions?”
“Tobehonest…Ididn’teovertoaskquestions.IthinkIjustwantedtosayhello.”
Shesmiled.“You’resentencedtoprison,youmovetoHedeby,clamberthroughallthematerialofHenrik’sfavouritehobby,youdon’tsleepatnightandtakelongnighttimewalkswhenit’sfreezingcold…HaveIleftanythingout?”
“Mylifeisgoingtothedogs.”
“Whowasthatwomanvisitingyouovertheweekend?”
“Erika…She’stheeditorinchiefofMillennium.”
“Yourgirlfriend?”
“Notexactly.She’smarried.I’mmoreafriendandoasionallover.”
CeciliaVangerhootedwithlaughter.
“What’ssofunny?”
“Thewayyousaidthat.Oasionallover.Iliketheexpression.”
BlomkvisttookalikingtoCeciliaVanger.
“Icoulduseanoasionallovermyself,”shesaid.
Shekickedoffherslippersandproppedonefootonhisknee.Blomkvistautomaticallyputhishandonherfootandstrokedtheankle.Hehesitatedforasecond—hecouldsensehewasgettingintounexpectedwaters.Buttent