r’simmediatereactionwasthattheycouldnotusethematerialsinceithadbeenobtainedthroughillegalmeans.
But,ofcourse,theycoulduseit.Blomkvistpointedoutthattheyhadnoobligationtoexplainhowtheyhadacquiredthematerial.TheycouldjustaswellhaveasourcewithaesstoWennerstr?m’sputerwhohadburnedeverythingonhisharddrivetoaCD.
FinallyBergerrealisedwhataweaponshehadinherhands.Shefeltexhaustedandstillhadquestions,butshedidnotknowwheretobegin.Atlastsheleanedbackagainstthesofaandthrewoutherhands.
“Mikael,whathappenedupinHedestad?”
Salanderlookedupsharply.Blomkvistansweredwithaquestion.
“HowareyougettingalongwithHarrietVanger?”
“Fine.Ithink.I’vemethertwice.ChristerandIdroveuptoHedestadforaboardmeetinglastweek.Wegotdrunkonwine.”
“Andtheboardmeeting?”
“Shekeptherword.”
“Ricky,Iknowyou’refrustratedthatI’vebeenduckingyouandingupwithexcusesnottotellyouwhathappened.YouandIhaveneverhadsecretsfromeachother,andallofasuddenthere’ssixmonthsofmylifethatI’m…notpreparedtotellyouabout.”
BergermetBlomkvist’sgaze.Sheknewhiminsideandout,butwhatshesawinhiseyeswassomethingshehadneverseenbefore.Hewasbegginghernottoask.Salanderwatchedtheirwordlessdialogue.Shewasnopartofit.
“Wasitthatbad?”
“Itwasworse.I’vebeendreadingthisconversation.Ipromisetotellyou,butI’vespentseveralmonthssuppressingmyfeelingswhileWennerstr?mhasabsorbedallmyattention…I’mstillnotready.I’dpreferitifHarriettoldyouinstead.”
“What’sthatmarkaroundyourneck?”
“Lisbethsavedmylifeupthere.Ifitweren’tforher,I’dbedead.”
Berger’seyeswidened.Shestaredatthegirlintheleatherjacket.
“Andrightnowyouneedtoetoanagreementwithher.Sheisoursource.”
Bergersatforatime,thinking.ThenshedidsomethingthatastonishedBlomkvistandstartledSalander;shesurprisedevenherself.ThewholetimeshehadbeensittingatMikael’sliving-roomtable,shehadfeltSalander’seyesonher.Ataciturngirlwithhostilevibrations.
Bergerstoodupandwentaroundthetableandthrewherarmsaroundthegirl