boughtbread,milk,cheese,andsomethingforsupper.Whenhereturnedheputonwaterforcoffee,satinthegarden,andreadtheeveningpaperswithoutthinkingofanythingelse.
At5:30ataxidroveacrossthebridge.Afterthreeminutesitwentbackthewayitcame.BlomkvistcaughtaglimpseofIsabellaVangerinthebackseat.
Around7:00hehaddozedoffinthegardenchairwhenFrodewokehimup.
“How’sitgoingwithHenrikandHarriet?”hesaid.
“Thisunhappycloudhasitssilverlining,”Frodesaidwitharestrainedsmile.“Isabella,wouldyoubelieve,camerushingintoHenrik’shospitalroom.She’dobviouslyseenthatyou’debackandwaspletelybesideherself.ShescreamedathimthattherehadtobeanendtothisoutrageousfussaboutherHarriet,addingthatyouweretheonewhodrovehersontohisdeathwithyoursnooping.”
“Well,she’sright,inaway.”
“ShemandedHenriktodismissyouforthwithandrunyouoffthepropertyforgood.Andwouldhe,onceandforall,stopsearchingforghosts.”
“Wow!”
“Shedidn’tevenglanceatthewomansittingbesidethebedtalkingtoHenrik.Shemusthavethoughtitwasoneofthestaff.IwillneverfetthemomentwhenHarrietstoodupandsaid,‘Hello,Mamma.’”
“Whathappened?”
“WehadtocalladoctortocheckIsabella’svitalsigns.Rightnowshe’srefusingtobelievethatit’sHarriet.Youareausedofdragginginanimpostor.”
FrodewasonhiswaytovisitCeciliaandAlexandertogivethemthenewsthatHarriethadrisenfromthedead.Hehurriedaway,leavingBlomkvisttohissolitarymusings.
SalanderstoppedandfilledhertankatapetrolstationnorthofUppsala.Shehadbeenridingdoggedly,staringstraightahead.Shepaidquicklyandgotbackonherbike.Shestarteditupandrodetotheexit,whereshestopped,undecided.
Shewasstillinaterriblemood.ShewasfuriouswhensheleftHedeby,butherragehadslowlydissolvedduringtheride.ShecouldnotmakeuphermindwhyshewassoangrywithBlomkvist,orevenifhewastheoneshewasangrywith.
ShethoughtofMartinVangerandHarrietFuckingVangerandDirchFuckingFrodeandthewholedamnedVangerclansittinginHedestadreigningovertheirlittleempireandplottingagainsteachother.Theyhadneededherhelp.Normallytheyw