sabellathatwasthecause,andhetookherinsothatshecouldhavesomepeaceandquietandconcentrateonherstudies.”
“AnunforeseenobstacleforGottfriedandMartin.Theycouldn’tgettheirhandsonheraseasilyorcontrolherlife.Buteventually…Wheredidtheassaulttakeplace?”
“ItmusthavebeenatGottfried’scabin.I’malmostpositivethatthesepicturesweretakenthere—itshouldbepossibletocheck.Thecabinisinaperfectlocation,isolatedandfarfromthevillage.ThenGottfriedgotdrunkonelasttimeanddiedinamostbanalway.”
“SoHarriet’sfatherhadattemptedtohavesexwithher,butmyguessisthathedidn’tinitiateherintothekilling.”
Blomkvistrealisedthatthiswasaweakpoint.HarriethadmadenoteofthenamesofGottfried’svictims,pairingthemupwithBiblequotes,butherinterestintheBibledidnotemergeuntilthelastyear,andbythenGottfriedwasalreadydead.Hepaused,tryingtoeupwithalogicalexplanation.
“SometimealongthewayHarrietdiscoveredthatGottfriedhadnotonlymittedincest,buthewasalsoaserialsexmurderer,”hesaid.
“Wedon’tknowwhenshefoundoutaboutthemurders.ItcouldhavebeenrightbeforeGottfrieddrowned.Itmightalsohavebeenafterhedrowned,ifhehadadiaryorhadsavedpresscuttingsaboutthem.Somethingputheronhistrack.”
“Butthatwasn’twhatshewasthreateningtotellHenrik,”Blomkvistsaid.
“ItwasMartin,”Salandersaid.“Herfatherwasdead,butMartinwasgoingonabusingher.”
“Exactly.”
“Butitwasayearbeforeshetookanyaction.”
“Whatwouldyoudoifyoufoundoutthatyourfatherwasamurdererwhohadbeenrapingyourbrother?”
“I’dkillthefucker,”SalandersaidinsuchasobertohatBlomkvistbelievedher.HerememberedherfaceasshewasattackingMartinVanger.Hesmiledjoylessly.
“OK,butHarrietwasn’tlikeyou.Gottfrieddiedbeforeshemanagedtodoanything.Thatalsomakessense.WhenGottfrieddied,IsabellasentMartintoUppsala.HemighthaveehomeforChristmasorotherholidays,butduringthatfollowingyearhedidn’tseeHarrietveryoften.Shewasabletogetsomedistancefromhim.”
“AndshestartedstudyingtheBible.”
“Andinlightofwhatwenowknow,itdidn’thavetobeforanyreligiousr