dthemurdersofatleastsevenwomen.
Frodeinterruptedherrecitationonlyonce.Whenshestoppedtalking,hesatmutelyforseveralminutesbeforehetookadeepbreathandsaid:“Whatarewegoingtodo?”
“That’snotformetosay,”Salandersaid.
“But…”
“AsIseeit,I’veneversetfootinHedestad.”
“Idon’tunderstand.”
“UndernocircumstancesdoIwantmynameinanypolicereport.Idon’texistinconnectionwithanyofthis.Ifmynameismentionedinconnectionwiththisstory,I’lldenythatI’veeverbeenhere,andI’llrefusetoanswerasinglequestion.”
Frodegaveherasearchinglook.
“Idon’tunderstand.”
“Youdon’tneedtounderstand.”
“ThenwhatshouldIdo?”
“You’llhavetoworkthatoutforyourself.OnlyleavemeandMikaeloutofit.”
Frodewasdeathlypale.
“Lookatitthisway:theonlythingyouknowisthatMartinVangerdiedinatrafficaident.Youhavenoideathathewasalsoaninsane,nauseatingserialkiller,andyou’veneverheardabouttheroominhisbasement.”
Sheputthekeyonthetablebetweenthem.
“You’vegottime—beforeanyoneisgoingtocleanoutMartin’shouseanddiscoverthebasement.”
“Wehavetogotothepoliceaboutthis.”
“Notwe.Youcangotothepoliceifyoulike.It’syourdecision.”
“Thiscan’tbebrushedunderacarpet.”
“I’mnotsuggestingthatitshouldbebrushedanywhere,justthatyouleavemeandMikaeloutofit.Whenyoudiscovertheroom,youdrawyourownconclusionsanddecideforyourselfwhoyouwanttotell.”
“Ifwhatyousayistrue,itmeansthatMartinhaskidnappedandmurderedwomen…theremustbefamiliesthataredesperatebecausetheydon’tknowwheretheirchildrenare.Wecan’tjust…”
“That’sright.Butthere’sjustoneproblem.Thebodiesaregone.Maybeyou’llfindpassportsorIDcardsinsomedrawer.Maybesomeofthevictimscanbeidentifiedfromthevideotapes.Butyoudon’tneedtodecidetoday.Thinkitover.”
Frodelookedpanic-stricken.
“Oh,dearGod.Thiswillbethedeathblowforthepany.ThinkofhowmanyfamilieswilllosetheirlivelihoodifitgetsoutthatMartin…”
Froderockedbackandforth,jugglingwithamoraldilemma.
“That’soneissue.IfIsabellaVa