unctionthatway,butIdon’tknow…I’venever…”Sheshookherhead.“I’mgoingbacktomyplace.Ihavetothinkaboutthisforawhile.”
“Cecilia,youaskedmeearlierandItoldyouaboutmyrelationshipwithErika.Herexistencecan’tbeanygreatsurprisetoyou.”
“That’strue.ButaslongasshewasatafortabledistancedowninStockholmIcouldignoreher.”
Ceciliaputonherjacket.
“Thissituationisludicrous,”shesaidwithasmile.“eoverfordinnertonight.BringErika.IthinkI’mgoingtolikeher.”
Erikahadalreadysolvedtheproblemofwheretosleep.OnpreviousoasionswhenshehadbeenuptoHedebytovisitVangershehadstayedinoneofhissparerooms,andsheaskedhimstraightoutifshecouldborrowtheroomagain.Henrikcouldscarcelyconcealhisdelight,andheassuredherthatshewasweleatanytime.
Withtheseformalitiesoutoftheway,BlomkvistandBergerwentforawalkacrossthebridgeandsatontheterraceofSusanne’sBridgeCaféjustbeforeclosingtime.
“I’mreallypissedoff,”Bergersaid.“Idriveallthewayupheretoweleyoubacktofreedomandfindyouinbedwiththetownfemmefatale.”
“I’msorryaboutthat.”
“HowlonghaveyouandMissBigTits…”Bergerwavedherindexfinger.
“FromaboutthetimeVangerbecamepartowner.”
“Aha.”
“Whatdoyoumean,aha?”
“Justcurious.”
“Cecilia’sagoodwoman.Ilikeher.”
“I’mnotcriticising.I’mjustpissedoff.CandywithinreachandthenIhavetogoonadiet.Howwasprison?”
“Likeanuneventfulholiday.Howarethingsatthemagazine?”
“Better.Forthefirsttimeinayeartheadvertisingrevenueisontherise.We’rewaybelowthistimelastyear,butwe’veturnedthecorner.ThankstoHenrik.Buttheweirdthingisthatsubscriptionsaregoinguptoo.”
“Theytendtofluctuate.”
“Byacoupleofhundredonewayortheother.Butwe’vepickedupthreethousandinthepastquarter.AtfirstIthoughtitwasjustluck,butnewsubscriberskeepingin.It’sourbiggestsubscriptionjumpever.Atthesametime,ourexistingsubscribersarerenewingprettyconsistentlyacrosstheboard.Noneofuscanunderstandit.Wehaven’trunanyadcampaigns.Christerspentaweekdoingspotchecksonwhatsortofdemographicisshowingup.F