ndedgeofthephotograph.
Mikaeltookthemagnifyingglassandtriedtomakeoutthedetails.Thephotographwastakenfromtoogreatadistanceforhimtobeentirelysure,butunlikeallthosearoundher,Harriet’sfacelackedexcitement.Hermouthwasathinline.Hereyeswerewideopen.Herhandshunglimplyathersides.Shelookedfrightened.Frightenedorfurious.
Mikaeltooktheprintoutofthealbum,putitinastiffplasticbinder,andwenttowaitforthenextbusbackintoHedestad.HegotoffatJ?rnv?gsgatanandstoodunderthewindowfromwhichthepicturemusthavebeentaken.ItwasattheedgeofwhatconstitutedHedestad’stowncentre.Itwasatwo-storeywoodenbuildingthathousedavideostoreandSundstr?m’sHaberdashery,establishedin1932aordingtoaplaqueonthefrontdoor.Hewentinandsawthattheshopwasontwolevels;aspiralstaircaseledtotheupperfloor.
Atthetopofthespiralstaircasetwowindowsfacedthestreet.
“MayIhelpyou?”saidanelderlysalesmanwhenBlomkvisttookoutthebinderwiththephotograph.Therewereonlyafewpeopleintheshop.
“Well,Ijustwantedtoseewherethispicturewastakenfrom.WoulditbeOKifIopenedthewindowforasecond?”
Themansaidyes.BlomkvistcouldseeexactlythespotwhereHarriethadstood.Oneofthewoodenbuildingsbehindherinthephotographwasgone,replacedbyanangularbrickbuilding.Theotherwoodenbuildinghadbeenastationerystorein1966;nowitwasahealthfoodstoreandtanningsalon.Blomkvistclosedthewindow,thankedtheman,andapologisedfortakinguphistime.
HecrossedthestreetandstoodwhereHarriethadstood.Hehadgoodlandmarksbetweenthewindowoftheupperfloorofthehaberdasheryandthedoorofthetanningsalon.HeturnedhisheadandlookedalongHarriet’slineofsight.Asfarashecouldtell,shehadbeenlookingtowardsthecornerofthebuildingthathousedSundstr?m’sHaberdashery.Itwasaperfectlynormalcornerofabuilding,whereacrossstreetvanishedbehindit.Whatdidyouseethere,Harriet?
Blomkvistputthephotographinhisshoulderbagandwalkedtotheparkbythestation.Therehesatinapavementcaféandorderedalatte.Hesuddenlyfeltshaken.
InEnglishtheycallit“newevidence,”whichhasaverydifferentsoundfromtheSwedishterm,