orightawayandyouaren’tsureyoucanpayhiswagesanyway.Monopolyisn’tgoingtosurviveforlong.Bringinmorefreelancematerialforthisissue.Andhireanewmanagingeditor,forGod’ssake./M.
P.S.Slussplan?It’sadate.
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Slussplan—inyourdreams.Butwe’vealwaysdohehiringtogether./Ricky.
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Andwe’vealwaysagreedaboutwhoweshouldhire.Wewillthistimetoo,nomatterwhoyouchoose.We’regoingtoscupperWennerstr?m.That’sthewholestory.Justletmefinishthisinpeace./M.
InearlyOctoberSalanderreadanarticleontheIntereditionoftheHedestadCourier.ShetoldBlomkvistaboutit.IsabellaVangerhaddiedafterashortillness.Shewasmournedbyherdaughter,HarrietVanger,latelyreturnedfromAustralia.
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HiMikael.
HarrietVangercametoseemeattheofficetoday.Shecalledfiveminutesbeforeshearrived,andIwastotallyunprepared.Abeautifulwoman,elegantclothesandacoolgaze.
Shecametotellmethatshe’llbereplacingMartinVangerasHenrik’srepresentativeonourboard.ShewaspoliteandfriendlyandassuredmethattheVangerCorporationhadnoplanstobackoutoftheagreement.Onthecontrary,thefamilystandsfullybehindHenrik’sobligationstothemagazine.Sheaskedforatouroftheeditorialoffices,andshewantedtoknowhowIseethesituation.
Itoldherthetruth.ThatitfeelsasifIdon’thavesolidgroundundermyfeet,thatyouhaveforbiddenmetoetoSandhamn,andthatIdon’tknowwhatyou’reworkingon,otherthanthatyouareplanningtosinkWennerstr?m.SheraisedaneyebrowandsmiledandaskedifIhaddoubtsthatyou’dsueed.WhatwasIsupposedtosaytothat?IsaidthatIwouldsleepalittleeasierifIknewexactlywhatyouwerewriting.Jeez,ofcourseItrustyou.Butyou’redrivingmecrazy.
Iaskedherifsheknewwhatyouwereworkingon.Shedenieditbutsaidthatitwasherimpressionthatyouwereextremelyresourceful,withaninnovativewayofthinking.
IsaidthatIalsogatheredthatsomethingdramatichadhappenedupinHedestadandthatIwaseversoslightlycuriousaboutthestoryregardingHarrietVangerherself.Inshort,Ifeltlikeanidiot.Sheaskedmewhetheryoureallyhadn’ttoldmeanyt