rblackcamisole,thetattoos,andtheringspiercingherface,Salanderlookedoutofplace,tosaytheleast,inaguestcottageinHedeby.Whenhetriedtobesociableoverdinner,shewastaciturntothepointofrudeness.Butwhenshewasworkingshesoundedlikeaprofessionaltoherfingertips.HerapartmentinStockholmmightlookasifabombhadgoneoffinit,butmentallySalanderwasextremelywellanised.
“It’shardtoseetheconnectionbetweenaprostituteinUddevallawho’skilledinanindustrialyardandapastor’swifewhoisstrangledinRonnebyandhasherhousesetonfire.Ifyoudon’thavethekeythatHarrietgaveus,thatis.”
“Whichleadstothenextquestion,”Salandersaid.
“HowonearthdidHarrietgetmixedupinallthis?Asixteen-year-oldgirlwholivedinareallyshelteredenvironment.”
“There’sonlyoneanswer,”Salandersaid.“TheremustbesomeconnectiontotheVangerfamily.”
By11:00thatnighttheyhadgoneovertheseriesofmurdersanddiscussedtheconceivableconnectionsandthetinydetailsofsimilarityanddifferencesooftenthatBlomkvist’sheadwasspinning.HerubbedhiseyesandstretchedandaskedSalanderifshefeltlikeawalk.Herexpressionsuggestedthatshethoughtsuchpracticeswereawasteoftime,butsheagreed.Blomkvistadvisedhertochangeintolongtrousersbecauseofthemosquitoes.
Theystrolledpastthesmall-boatharbourandthenunderthebridgeandouttowardsMartinVanger’spoint.Blomkvistpointedoutthevarioushousesandtoldheraboutthepeoplewholivedinthem.HehadsomedifficultywhentheycametoCeciliaVanger’shouse.Salandergavehimacuriouslook.
TheypassedMartinVanger’smotoryachtandreachedthepoint,andtheretheysatonarockandsharedacigarette.
“There’sonemoreconnection,”Blomkvistsaidsuddenly.“Maybeyou’vealreadythoughtofit.”
“What?”
“Theirnames.”
Salanderthoughtforamomentandshookherhead.
“They’reallBiblicalnames.”
“Nottrue,”shesaid.“WhereisthereaLivorLenaintheBible?”
“Theyarethere.Livmeanstolive,inotherwordsEva.Andeon—what’sLenashortfor?”
Salandergrimacedinannoyance.Hehadbeenquickerthanshewas.Shedidnotlikethat.
“Magdalena,”shesaid.