aboutsixyardsdownthestreet.Inthelastpicture,whichmayhavebeentakenaftersometimehadpassed,thegirlshadgone.
BlomkvisteditedaseriesofpicturesinwhichhecroppedthetophalfofHarrietandprocessedthemtoachievethebestcontrast.Heputthepicturesinaseparatefolder,openedtheGraphionverterprogramme,andstartedtheslideshowfunction.Theeffectwasajerkysilentfilminwhicheachimagewasshownfortwoseconds.
Harrietarrives,imageinprofile.Harrietstopsandlooksdownatthestreet.Harrietturnsherfacetowardsthestreet.Harrietopenshermouthtosaysomethingtoherfriend.Harrietlaughs.Harriettouchesherearwithherlefthand.Harrietsmiles.Harrietsuddenlylookssurprised,herfaceat0°angletotheleftofthecamera.Harriet’seyeswidenandshehasstoppedsmiling.Harriet’smouthbeesathinline.Harrietfocuseshergaze.Inherfacecanberead…what?Sorrow,shock,fury?Harrietlowershereyes.Harrietisgone.
Blomkvistplayedthesequenceoverandover.
Itconfirmedwithsomeforcethetheoryhehadformulated.SomethinghappenedonJ?rnv?gsgatan.
Sheseessomething—someone—ontheothersideofthestreet.Shereactswithshock.ShecontactsVangerforaprivateconversationwhichneverhappens.Shevanisheswithoutatrace.
Somethinghappened,butthephotographsdidnotexplainwhat.
At2:00onTuesdaymorningBlomkvisthadcoffeeandsandwichesatthekitchenbench.Hewassimultaneouslydownheartedandexhilarated.Againstallexpectationshehadturnedupnewevidence.Theonlyproblemwasthatalthoughitshedlightonthechainofeventsitbroughthimnotoneiotaclosertosolvingthemystery.
HethoughtlongandhardaboutwhatroleCeciliaVangermighthaveplayedinthedrama.Vangerhadrelentlesslychartedtheactivitiesofallpersonsinvolvedthatday,andCeciliahadbeennoexception.ShewaslivinginUppsala,butshearrivedinHedebytwodaysbeforethatfatefulSaturday.ShestayedwithIsabellaVanger.ShehadsaidthatshemightpossiblyhaveseenHarrietearlythatmorning,butthatshehadnotspokentoher.ShehaddrivenintoHedestadonsomeerrand.ShehadnotseenHarrietthere,andshecamebacktoHedebyIslandaround1:00,aboutthetimeNylundwastakinghispicturesonJ?rnv?gsgat