andbecameafamousphotographerworkingbothfreelanceandasanemployeeofScanpixSwedeninMarieberg.BlomkvisthadcrossedpathswithKurtNylundseveraltimesintheniies,whenMillenniumhadusedimagesfromScanpix.Herememberedhimasanangularmanwiththinninghair.OnthedayoftheparadeNylundhadusedadaylightfilm,nottoofast,onewhichmanynewsphotographersused.
BlomkvisttookoutthenegativesofthephotographsbytheyoungNylundandputthemonthelighttable.Withamagnifyingglasshestudiedthemframebyframe.Readingnegativesisanartform,requiringexperience,whichBlomkvistlacked.Todeterminewhetherthephotographcontainedrmationofvaluehewasgoingtohavetoscanineachimageandexamineitontheputerscreen.Thatwouldtakehours.Sofirsthedidaquitegeneralsurveyofthephotographshemightbeinterestedin.
Hebeganbyrunningthroughalltheonesthathadbeentakenoftheaident.Vanger’scollectionwasinplete.Thepersonwhohadcopiedthecollection—possiblyNylundhimself—hadleftoutaboutthirtyphotographsthatwereeitherblurredorofsuchpoorqualitythattheywerenotconsideredpublishable.
BlomkvistswitchedofftheCourier’sputerandpluggedtheAgfascannerintohisowni.Hespenttwohoursscanningintherestoftheimages.
Onecaughthiseyeatonce.Sometimebetween3:10and3:15p.m.,justatthetimewhenHarrietvanished,someonehadopenedthewindowinherroom.Vangerhadtriedinvaintofindoutwhoitwas.Blomkvisthadaphotographonhisscreenthatmusthavebeentakenatexactlythemomentthewindowwasopened.Therewereafigureandaface,albeitoutoffocus.Hedecidedthatadetailedanalysiscouldwaituntilhehadfirstscannedalltheimages.
ThenheexaminedtheimagesoftheChildren’sDaycelebrations.Nylundhadputinsixrolls,aroundtwohundredshots.Therewasanendlessstreamofchildrenwithballoons,grown-ups,streetlifewithhotdogvendors,theparadeitself,anartistonastage,andanawardpresentationofsomesort.
Blomkvistdecidedtoscanintheentirecollection.Sixhourslaterhehadaportfolioofniyimages,buthewasgoingtohavetoeback.
At9:00hecalledBlomberg,thankedher,andtookthebushometoHedebyIsland.
Hewasbackat9:00onSundaymorning.Theoffi