newhosenttheflowers.Shesaidthatshehopedyouwouldunderstandthatshewasaliveandthatshewasdoingfine,withouthavingtomakeanappearance.ButsinceheronlychannelofrmationwasAnita,whomovedabroadassoonasshefinishedherstudiesandnevervisitedHedestad,Harriet’sawarenessaboutwhatwentonherewaslimited.Sheneverknewhowterriblyyousufferedorthatyouthoughtitwashermurderertauntingyou.”
“IassumeitwasAnitawhopostedtheflowers.”
“Sheworkedforanairlineandflewallovertheworld.Shepostedthemfromwherevershehappenedtobe.”
“ButhowdidyouknowAnitawastheonewhohelpedher?”
“ShewastheoneinHarriet’swindow.”
“Butshecouldhavebeenmixedupin…shecouldhavebeenthemurdererinstead.HowdidyoufindoutthatHarrietwasalive?”
BlomkvistgaveHenrikalonglook.ThenhesmiledforthefirsttimesincehehadreturnedtoHedestad.
“AnitawasinvolvedinHarriet’sdisappearance,butshecouldn’thavekilledher.”
“Howcouldyoubesureofthat?”
“Becausethisisn’tsomedamnedlocked-roommysterynovel.IfAnitahadmurderedHarriet,youwouldhavefoundthebodyyearsago.SotheonlylogicalthingwasthatshehelpedHarrietescapeandhide.Doyouwanttoseeher?”
“OfcourseIwanttoseeher.”
BlomkvistfoundHarrietbytheliftinthelobby.Atfirsthedidnotrecogniseher.SincetheyhadpartedatArlandaAirportthenightbeforeshehaddyedherhairbrownagain.Shewasdressedinblacktrousers,awhiteblouse,andanelegantgreyjacket.Shelookedradiant,andBlomkvistbentdowntogiveheranencouraginghug.
HenrikgotupfromhischairwhenMikaelopenedthedoor.Shetookadeepbreath.
“Hi,Henrik,”shesaid.
Theoldmanscrutinisedherfromtoptotoe.ThenHarrietwentoverandkissedhim.BlomkvistnoddedtoFrodeandclosedthedoor.
SalanderwasnotinthecottagewhenBlomkvistreturnedtoHedebyIsland.Thevideoequipmentandhermotorcycleweregone,aswellasthebagwithherextraclothesandherspongebag.Thecottagefeltempty.Itsuddenlyseemedalienandunreal.Helookedatthestacksofpaperintheoffice,whichhewouldhavetopackupinboxesandcarrybacktoHenrik’shouse.Buthecouldnotfacestartingtheprocess.HedrovetoKonsumand