henightwatchmanisgoingtocallmewhensheleaves.”
PART4
HostileTakeover
JULY11TODECEMBER30
Niy-twopercentofwomeninSwedenwhohavebeensubjectedtosexualassaulthavenotreportedthemostrecentviolentincidenttothepolice.
CHAPTER24
Friday,July11–Saturday,July12
MartinVangerbentdownandwentthroughMikael’spockets.Hetookthekey.
“Smartofyoutochangethelock,”hesaid.“I’mgoingtotakecareofyourgirlfriendwhenshegetsback.”
BlomkvistremindedhimselfthatMartinwasanegotiatorexperiencedfrommanyindustrialbattles.Hehadalreadyseenthroughonebluff.
“Why?”
“Whywhat?”
“Whyallofthis?”Blomkvistgesturedvaguelyatthespacearoundhim.
MartinbentdownandputonehandunderBlomkvist’schin,liftinghisheadsotheireyesmet.
“Becauseit’ssoeasy,”hesaid.“Womendisappearallthetime.Nobodymissesthem.Immigrants.WhoresfromRussia.ThousandsofpeoplepassthroughSwedeneveryyear.”
HeletgoofBlomkvist’sheadandstoodup.
Martin’swordshitBlomkvistlikeapunchintheface.
ChristAlmighty.Thisisnohistoricalmystery.MartinVangerismurderingwomentoday.AndIwanderedrightintoit…
“Asithappens,Idon’thaveaguestrightnow.ButitmightamuseyoutoknowthatwhileyouandHenriksataroundbabblingthiswinterandspring,therewasagirldownhere.IrinafromBelarus.Whileyousatandatedinnerwithme,shewaslockedupinthecagedownhere.ItwasapleasanteveningasIremember,no?”
Martinperchedonthetable,lettinghislegsdangle.Blomkvistshuthiseyes.Hesuddenlyfeltacidinhisthroatandheswallowedhard.Thepaininhisgutandinhisribsseemedtoswell.
“Whatdoyoudowiththebodies?”
“Ihavemyboatatthedockrightbelowhere.Itakethemalongwayouttosea.Unlikemyfather,Idon’tleavetraces.Buthewassmarttoo.HespreadhisvictimsoutalloverSweden.”
Thepuzzlepieceswerefallingintoplace.
GottfriedVanger.From1949until1965.ThenMartinVanger,startingin1966inUppsala.
“Youadmireyourfather.”
“Hewastheonewhotaughtme.HeinitiatedmewhenIwasfourteen.”
“Uddevalla.LeaPersson.”
“Are