wasrightnowhisonlyhopeofrescue.Whatwouldshethinkwhenshecamehomeandfoundhimnotthere?HehadputthephotographofMartinVangerwearingthepaddedjacketonthekitchentable.Wouldshemaketheconnection?Wouldshesoundthealarm?Sheisnotgoingtocallthepolice.ThenightmarewasthatshewouldetoMartinVanger’shouseandringthebell,demandingtoknowwhereBlomkvistwas.
“Answerme,”Martinsaid,hisvoiceice-cold.
“I’mthinking.SheknowsalmostasmuchasIdo,maybeevenalittlemore.Yes,IwouldreckonsheknowsmorethanIdo.She’sbright.She’stheonewhomadethelinktoLenaAndersson.”
“LenaAndersson?”Martinsoundedperplexed.
“ThegirlyoutorturedandkilledinUppsalain1966.Don’ttellmeyou’vefotten?”
“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”Butforthefirsttimehesoundedshaken.Itwasthefirsttimethatanyonehadmadethatconnection—LenaAnderssonwasnotincludedinHarriet’sdate.
“Martin,”Blomkvistsaid,makinghisvoiceassteadyashecould.“It’sover.Youcankillme,butit’sfinished.Toomanypeopleknow.”
Martinstartedpacingbackandforthagain.
Ihavetorememberthathe’sirrational.Thecat.Hecouldhavebroughtthecatdownhere,buthewenttothefamilycrypt.Martinstopped.
“Ithinkyou’relying.YouandSalanderaretheonlyoneswhoknowanything.Youobviouslyhaven’ttalkedtoanyone,orthepolicewouldhavebeenherebynow.Anicelittleblazeintheguestcottageandtheproofwillbegone.”
“Andifyou’rewrong?”
“IfI’mwrong,thenitreallyisover.ButIdon’tthinkitis.I’llbetthatyou’rebluffing.AndwhatotherchoicedoIhave?I’llgivethatsomethought.It’sthatanorexiclittlecuntwho’stheweaklink.”
“ShewenttoStockholmatlunchtime.”
Martinlaughed.
“Bluffaway,Mikael.ShehasbeensittinginthearchivesattheVangerCorporationofficesallevening.”
Blomkvist’sheartskippedabeat.Heknew.He’sknownallalong.
“That’sright.TheplanwastovisitthearchiveandthengotoStockholm,”Blomkvistsaid.“Ididn’tknowshestayedtheresolong.”
“Stopallthiscrap,Mikael.ThearchivesmanagerrangtotellmethatDirchhadletthegirlstaythereaslateassheliked.Whichmeansshe’llcertainlybehome.T