omeat5:30,Salanderhadsnappedatherthatshewasalongwayfromfinishedyet.Shecouldgohomeaslongassheleftthekey,andSalanderwouldlockup.BythattimethearchivesmanagerwassoinfuriatedthatagirllikethisonecouldbossheraroundthatshecalledHerrFrode.FrodetoldherthatSalandercouldstayallnightifshewantedto.WouldFruLindgrenpleasenotifysecurityattheofficesothattheycouldletSalanderoutwhenshewantedtoleave?
Threehourslater,gettingonfor8:30,SalanderhadconcludedthatGottfriedVangerhadbeenclosetowhereatleastfiveoftheeightmurdersweremitted,eitherduringthedaysbeforeoraftertheevent.Shewasstillmissingrmationaboutthemurdersin1949and1954.Shestudiedanewspaperphotographofhim.Aslim,handsomemanwithdarkblondhair;helookedratherlikeClarkGableinGonewiththeWind.
In1949Gottfriedwastwenty-twoyearsold.Thefirstmurdertookplaceinhishometerritory.Hedestad.RebeckaJacobsson,whoworkedattheVangerCorporation.Wheredidthetwoofyoumeet?Whatdidyoupromiseher?
Salanderbitherlip.TheproblemwasthatGottfriedVangerhaddrownedwhenhewasdrunkin1965,whilethelastmurderwasmittedinUppsalainFebruary1966.ShewonderedifshewasmistakenwhenshehadaddedLenaAndersson,theseventeen-year-oldschoolgirl,tothelist.No.Itmightnotbethesamesignature,butitwasthesameBibleparody.Theymustbeconnected.
By9:00itwasgettingdark.Theairwascoolanditwasdrizzling.Mikaelwassittinginthekitchen,drumminghisfingersonthetable,whenMartinVanger’sVolvocrossedthebridgeandturnedouttowardsthepoint.Thatsomehowbroughtmatterstoahead.
Hedidnotknowwhatheshoulddo.Hiswholebeingwasburningwithadesiretoaskquestions—toinitiateaconfrontation.ItwascertainlynotasensibleattitudetohaveifhesuspectedMartinVangerofbeinganinsanemurdererwhohadkilledhissisterandagirlinUppsala,andwhohadalsoverynearlysueededinkillinghimtoo.ButMartinwasalsoamag.AndhedidnotknowthatBlomkvistknew;hecouldgoandseehimwiththepretextthat…well,hewantedtoreturnthekeytoGottfriedVanger’scabin.Blomkvistlockedthedoorbehindhimandstrolledouttothepoint.
HaraldVanger’shousewaspitchdark,asusual.InHenrik’sho