dayshehadalsoedownwithaslightcoldandwasorderedtobed.
“Besideswhich,she’sexpensive,”Vangerplained.
Blomkvistknewthattheoldmancouldaffordanysuchexpense—consideringhowmanykronorhehadwrittenoffhistaxesallhislife.Vangergavehimasullenlookuntilhestartedlaughing.
“Whatthehell,youwerewortheverykrona.Iknewyouwouldbe.”
“Totellyouthetruth,IneverthoughtI’dsolveit.”
“Ihavenointentionofthankingyou,”Vangersaid.
“Ididn’texpectyouwould.I’mjustheretotellyouthatIconsiderthejobdone.”
Vangercurledhislips.“Youhaven’tfinishedthejob,”hesaid.
“Iknowthat.”
“Youhaven’twrittentheVangerfamilychronicle,whichwasagreed.”
“Iknowthat.I’mnotgoingtowriteit.Infact,Ican’twriteit.Ican’twriteabouttheVangerfamilyandleaveoutthemostcentraleventofthepastdecades.HowcouldIwriteachapteraboutMartin’speriodasCEOandpretendthatIdon’tknowwhat’sinhisbasement?Ialsocan’twritethestorywithoutdestroyingHarriet’slifealloveragain.”
“Iunderstandyourdilemma,andI’mgratefulforthedecisionthatyou’vemade.”
“Congratulations.You’vemanagedtocorruptme.I’mgoingtodestroyallmynotesandthetaperecordingsI’vemadeofourconversations.”
“Idon’tthinkthatyou’vebeencorrupted,”Vangersaid.
“That’swhatitfeelslike.AndIthinkthat’swhatitis.”
“Youhadtochoosebetweenyourroleasajournalistandyourroleasahumanbeing.Icouldneverhaveboughtyoursilence.AndI’mquitecertainthatyouwouldhaveexposedusifHarriethadturnedoutinsomewaytohavebeenimplicated,orifyouthoughtIwasacretin.”
Blomkvistdidnotreply.
“We’vetoldCeciliathewholestory.FrodeandIwillsoonbegone,andHarrietisgoingtoneedsupportfromsomeoneinthefamily.Ceciliawillplayanactiveroleontheboard.SheandHarrietwillbeinchargeofthefirmfromnowon.”
“Howdidshetakeit?”
“Shewasveryshaken.Shewentabroadforawhile.Iwasevenafraidshewouldn’teback.”
“Butshedid.”
“MartinwasoneofthefewpeopleinourfamilythatCeciliaalwaysgotalongwith.Itwasveryhardforhertofindoutthetruthabouthim.Shealsoknowsnowwhatyoudid