estthingwecandoistosolvethemysteryofHarrietasquicklyaspossible.I’llgiveyouallthesupportIcansothatyoufinishtheworktoyoursatisfaction—and,ofcourse,Henrik’s—andthenreturntoMillennium.”
“Good.SoIwon’thavetofightwithyoutoo.”
“No,youwon’t.Youcanaskformyhelpwheneveryourunintoaproblem.I’llmakedamnsurethatBirgerwon’tputanysortofobstaclesinyourway.AndI’lltrytotalktoCecilia,tocalmherdown.”
“Thankyou.Ineedtoaskhersomequestions,andshe’sbeenresistingmyattemptsatconversationforamonthnow.”
MartinVangerlaughed.“Perhapsyouhaveotherissuestoironout.ButIwon’tgetinvolvedinthat.”
Theyshookhands.
Salanderhadlistenedtotheconversation.WhenMartinVangerleftshereachedfortheHedestadCourierandscannedthearticle.Sheputthepaperdownwithoutmakinganyment.
Blomkvistsatinsilence,thinking.GunnarKarlmanwasbornin1948andwouldhavebeeneighteenin1966.HewasoneofthepeopleontheislandwhenHarrietdisappeared.
Afterbreakfastheaskedhisresearchassistanttoreadthroughthepolicereport.Hegaveherallthephotographsoftheaident,aswellasthelongsummaryofVanger’sowninvestigations.
BlomkvistthendrovetoFrode’shouseandaskedhimkindlytodrawupanagreementforSalanderasaresearchassistantforthenextmonth.
Bythetimehereturnedtothecottage,Salanderhaddecampedtothegardenandwasimmersedinthepolicereport.Blomkvistwentintoheatupthecoffee.Hewatchedherthroughthekitchenwindow.Sheseemedtobeskimming,spendingnomorethantenorfifteensecondsoneachpage.Sheturnedthepagesmechanically,andBlomkvistwasamazedatherlackofconcentration;itmadenosense,sinceherownreportwassometiculous.Hetooktwocupsofcoffeeandjoinedheratthegardentable.
“Yournotesweredonebeforeyouknewwewerelookingforaserialkiller.”
“That’strue.IsimplywrotedownquestionsIwantedtoaskHenrik,andsomeotherthings.Itwasquiteunstructured.UpuntilnowI’vereallybeenstrugglinginthedark,tryingtowriteastory—achapterintheautobiographyofHenrikVanger.”
“Andnow?”
“InthepastalltheinvestigationsfocusedonHedebyIsland.NowI’msurethatthest