andtheylookprettyfair.Iwon’thavetoputupasmuchmoneyasIthought—thegapbetweenineandexpensesisdwindling.”
“ItalkedwithErikathisweek.Shesaysthatadvertisingrevenuehasperkedup.”
“It’sstartingtoturnaround,yes,butit’lltaketime.AtfirstthepaniesintheVangerCorporationwentinandboughtupabunchoffullpageads.Buttwoformeradvertisers—mobiletelephonesandatravelbureau—haveeback.”Hesmiledbroadly.“We’realsodoingalittlemoreone-to-onehustlingamongWennerstr?m’senemies.And,believeme,there’salonglist.”
“HaveyouhearddirectlyfromWennerstr?m?”
“Well,notreally.ButweleakedastorythatWennerstr?misanisingtheboycottofMillennium.Thatmusthavemadehimlookpetty.AreporteratDNissaidtohavereachedhimandgotasurlyreply.”
“Youareenjoyingthis,aren’tyou?”
“Enjoyisn’ttheword.Ishouldhavedevotedmyselftothisyearsago.”
“WhatisitbetweenyouandWennerstr?m,anyway?”
“Don’teventry.You’llfindoutattheendofyouryear.”
WhenBlomkvistleftVangeraround9:00therewasadistinctfeelingofspringintheair.Itwasdarkoutsideandhehesitatedforamoment.ThenhemadehisfamiliarcircuitandknockedonthedoorofCeciliaVanger’shouse.
Hewasn’tsurewhatheexpected.Ceciliaopenedhereyeswideandinstantlylookedunfortableasshelethimintothehall.Theystoodthere,suddenlyunsureofeachother.Shetooaskedifhehadescaped,andheexplainedthesituation.
“Ijustwantedtosayhello.AmIinterruptingsomething?”
Sheavoidedhiseyes.Mikaelcouldsenseatoncethatshewasn’tparticularlygladtoseehim.
“No…no,ein.Wouldyoulikesomecoffee?”
“Iwould.”
Hefollowedherintothekitchen.Shestoodwithherbacktohimasshefilledthecoffeemakerwithwater.Heputahandonhershoulder,andshestiffened.
“Cecilia,youdon’tlookasifyouwanttogivemecoffee.”
“Iwasn’texpectingyouforanothermonth,”shesaid.“Yousurprisedme.”
Heturnedheraroundsothathecouldseeherface.Theystoodinsilenceforamoment.Shestillwouldnotlookhimintheeye.
“Cecilia.Fetaboutthecoffee.What’sgoingon?”
Sheshookherheadandtookadeepbreath.
“Mikael,