usethelightswereoffexceptinoneroomfacingthecourtyard.Annahadgoobed.Isabella’shousewasdark.Ceciliawasn’tathome.ThelightswereonupstairsinAlexander’shouse,buttheywereoffinthetwohousesoupiedbypeoplewhowerenotmembersoftheVangerfamily.Hedidnotseeasoul.
HepausedirresolutelyoutsideMartinVanger’shouse,tookouthismobile,andpunchedinSalander’snumber.Stillnoanswer.Heturnedoffhismobilesothatitwouldnotstartringing.
Therewerelightsondownstairs.Blomkvistwalkedacrossthelawnandstoppedafewyardsfromthekitchenwindow,buthecouldseeno-one.Hecontinuedonaroundthehouse,pausingateachwindow,buttherewasnosignofMartin.Ontheotherhand,hediddiscoverthatthesmallsidedoorintothegaragewasslightlyopen.Don’tbeadamnfool.Buthecouldnotresistthetemptationtolook.
Thefirstthinghesawonthecarpenter’sbenchwasanopenboxofammunitionforamooserifle.Thenhesawtwogasolinecansonthefloorunderthebench.Preparationsforanothernocturnalvisit,Martin?
“ein,Mikael.Isawyouontheroad.”
Blomkvist’sheartskippedabeat.SlowlyheturnedhisheadandsawMartinVangerstandinginthedarkbyadoorleadingintothehouse.
“Yousimplycouldn’tstayaway,couldyou?”
Hisvoicewascalm,almostfriendly.
“Hi,Martin,”Blomkvistsaid.
“ein,”Martinrepeated.“Thisway.”
Hetookastepforwardandtotheside,holdingouthislefthandinaninvitinggesture.Heraisedhisrighthand,andBlomkvistsawthereflectionofdullmetal.
“IhaveaGlockinmyhand.Don’tdoanythingstupid.AtthisdistanceIwon’tmiss.”
Blomkvistslowlymovedcloser.WhenhereachedMartin,hestoppedandlookedhimintheeye.
“Ihadtoehere.Therearesomanyquestions.”
“Iunderstand.Throughthedoor.”
Blomkvistenteredthehouse.Thepassageledtothehallnearthekitchen,butbeforehegotthatfar,MartinVangerstoppedhimbyputtingahandlightlyonBlomkvist’sshoulder.
“No,notthatway.Toyourright.Openthedoor.”
Thebasement.WhenBlomkvistwashalfwaydownthesteps,MartinVangerturnedaswitchandthelightswenton.Totherightofhimwastheboilerroom.Aheadhecouldsmellthescentsoflaundry.Marting