hroughtheroom.
Therewerepicturestakenthenextday,whenthesearchforHarriethadbegun.AyoungInspectorMorellwasgivinginstructionstoasearchpartyconsistingoftwouniformedpoliceofficersandtenmenwearingbootswhowereabouttosetout.Vangerwaswearingaknee-lengthraincoatandanarrow-brimmedEnglishhat.
Ontheleftofthephotographstoodayoung,slightlystoutyoungmanwithlight,longishhair.Hehadonadarkpaddedjacketwitharedpatchattheshoulder.Theimagewasveryclear.Blomkvistrecognisedhimatonce—andthejacket—but,justtomakesure,heremovedthephotographandwentdowntoaskAnnaifsherecognisedtheman.
“Yes,ofcourse,that’sMartin.”
Salanderploughedthroughyearafteryearofpresscuttings,movinginchronologicalorder.Shebeganin1949andworkedherwayforward.Thearchivewashuge.Thepanywasmentionedinthemedianearlyeverydayduringtherelevanttimeperiod—notonlyinthelocalpressbutalsointhenationalmedia.Therewerefinancialanalyses,tradeunionnegotiations,thethreatofstrikes,factoryopeningsandfactoryclosings,annualreports,changesinmanagers,newproductsthatwerelaunched…Therewasafloodofnews.Click.Click.Click.Herbrainwasworkingathighspeedasshefocusedandabsorbedthermationfromtheyellowingpages.
Afterseveralhoursshehadanidea.SheaskedthearchivesmanageriftherewasachartshowingwheretheVangerCorporationhadfactoriesorpaniesduringthefiftiesandsixties.
BodilLindgrenlookedatSalanderwithundisguisedcoldness.Shewasnotatallhappygivingatotalstrangerpermissiontoentertheinnersanctumofthefirm’sarchives,beingobligedtoallowhertolookthroughwhateverdocumentssheliked.Andbesides,thisgirllookedlikesomesortofhalf-wittedfifteen-year-oldanarchist.ButHerrFrodehadgivenherinstructionsthatcouldnotbemisinterpreted.Thisslipofagirlwastobefreetolookatanythingshepleased.Anditwasurgent.ShebroughtouttheprintedannualreportsfortheyearsthatSalanderwantedtosee;eachreportcontainedachartofthefirm’sdivisionsthroughoutSweden.
Salanderlookedatthechartsandsawthatthefirmhadmanyfactories,offices,andsalesoutlets.Ateverysitewhereamurderwasmitted,therewas