gportionofconvictedserialkillerscamefromdysfunctionalhomesandtorturedanimalsintheirchildhood.SomeoftheconvictedAmericanserialkillerswerealsoarrestedforarson.TorturedanimalsandarsoncropupinseveralofHarriet’smurdercases,butwhatIwasreallythinkingaboutwasthefactthattheparsonageburneddowninthelateseventies.”
“It’salongshot,”Blomkvistsaid.
Lisbethnodded.“Agreed.ButIfindnothinginthepolicereportaboutthecauseofthefire,anditwouldbeveryinterestingtoknowiftherewereotherunexplainedfireshereaboutsinthesixties.Itwouldalsobeworthcheckingtoseeiftherewereanycasesofanimalabuseormutilationintheareabackthen.”
WhenSalanderwenttobedonherseventhnightinHedeby,shewasmildlyirritatedwithBlomkvist.Foralmostaweekshehadspentpracticallyeverywakingminutewithhim.Normallysevenminutesofanotherperson’spanywasenoughtogiveheraheadache,soshesetthingsuptoliveasarecluse.Shewasperfectlycontentaslongaspeopleleftherinpeace.Unfortunatelysocietywasnotverysmartorunderstanding;shehadtoprotectherselffromsocialauthorities,childwelfareauthorities,guardianshipauthorities,taxauthorities,police,curators,psychologists,psychiatrists,teachers,andbouncers,whowouldneverletherintothebareventhoughshewastwenty-five.Therewasawholearmyofpeoplewhoseemednottohaveanythingbettertodothantotrytodisruptherlife,and,iftheyweregiventheopportunity,tocorrectthewayshehadchosentoliveit.
Itdidnogoodtocry,shehadlearnedthatearlyon.Shehadalsolearnedthateverytimeshetriedtomakesomeoneawareofsomethinginherlife,thesituationjustgotworse.Consequentlyitwasuptohertosolveherproblemsbyherself,usingwhatevermethodsshedeemednecessary.SomethingthatAdvo