istrestrainedtheurgetolaugh.Thiswasnoplaceforlaughter,inthecorridoroutsideVanger’ssickbed,whichmightalsoturnouttobehisdeathbed.ButhethoughtofaversefromLennartHyland’srhymingalphabet.ItwastheletterM.Andallalohemoosehestood,laughinginashot-upwood.
InthehospitallobbyheranintoCeciliaVanger.Hehadtriedcallinghermobileadozentimessinceshecamebackfromherinterruptedholiday,butshehadneveransweredorreturnedhiscalls.AndshewasneverhomeatherplaceonHedebyIslandwheneverhewalkedpastandknockedonthedoor.
“Hi,Cecilia,”hesaid.“I’msosorryaboutallthiswithHenrik.”
“Thanks,”shesaid.
“Weneedtotalk.”
“I’msorrythatI’veshutyououtlikethis.Icanunderstandthatyoumustbecross,butI’mnothavinganeasytimeofitthesedays.”
Mikaelputhishandonherarmandsmiledather.
“Wait,you’vegotitwrong,Cecilia.I’mnotcrossatall.Iamstillhopingthatwecanbefriends.Canwehaveacupofcoffee?”Henoddedinthedirectionofthehospitalcafeteria.
CeciliaVangerhesitated.“Nottoday.IneedtogoandseeHenrik.”
“OK,butIstillneedtotalktoyou.It’spurelyprofessional.”
“Whatdoesthatmean?”Shewassuddenlyalert.
“Doyourememberthefirsttimewemet,whenyoucametothecottageinJanuary?Isaidthatweweretalkingofftherecord,andthatifIneededtoaskyouanyrealquestions,Iwouldtellyou.IthastodowithHarriet.”
CeciliaVanger’sfacewassuddenlyflushedwithanger.
“Youreallyarethefuckingpits.”
“Cecilia,I’vefoundsomethingsthatIreallydohavetotalktoyouabout.”
Shetookastepawayfromhim.
“Don’tyourealisethatthisbloodyhuntforthatcursedHarrietisjustoupationaltherapyforHenrik?Don’tyouseethathemightbeuptheredying,andthattheverylastthingheneedsistogetupsetagainandbefilledwithfalsehopesand…”
“ItmaybeahobbyforHenrik,butthereisnowmorematerialtogoonthananyonehashadtoworkwithinaverylongtime.Therearequestionsthatdonowneedtobeanswered.”
“IfHenrikdies,thatinvestigationisgoingtobeoverawfullydamnedfast.Thenyou’llbeoutonyourgrubby,snivellinginvestigativebackside,”Ceciliasaid,andshewalkedaway.