船说 “Howdoyouknowah,fetthat.Anyideawhathepnstodo”
“Nix.Justonelogicalguess.”
Blokvistthoughtforafewseconds.“Theprinter,”heexcied.
Bergerraisedhereyebrows.
“Ifyourekeepingalidontheeditorialoffices,therearentanyotherpossibilities.Providednoneofhisthugsispnninayyouanighttievisit.”
BlokvisttuedtoBerger.“anewprinterforthisissue.Now.AndcallDraganAranskyIwantsecurityhereatnightforthenextweek.”BacktoSander.“Thanks.”
“Whatsitworth”
“Whatdoyouean”
“Whatsthetorth”
“Whatwouldyoulike”
“Idliketodiscussitovercoffee.Rightnow.”
TheyetatKaffebaronHosgatan.SanderlookedsoseriouswhenBlokvistsatdownonthebenchnexttoherthathefeltapangofconce.Asusual,shecaestraighttothepoint.
“Ineedtoborrowsoeoney.”
Blokvistgaveheroneofhisostfoolishgrinsandreachedforhiswallet.
“Sure.Howuch”
“120,000kronor.”
“Steady,steady.”Heputhiswalletaway.
“Inotkidding.Ineedtoborrow120,000kronorforletssaysixweeks.Ihaveachancetoakeaninvestent,butIdonthaveanyoneelsetotuto.Youvegotroughly140,000kronorinyourcurrentaountrightnow.Youllgetyouroneyback.”
NopointentingonthefactthatSanderhadhackedhisbankpassword.
“Youdonthavetoborrowtheoneyfroe,”hereplied.“Wehaventdiscussedyourshareyet,butitsorethanenoughtocoverwhatyouwanttoborrow.”
“Myshare”
“Lisbeth,IhaveaninsanefeetocashinfroHenrikVanger,andweregoingtofinalisethedeattheendoftheyear.Withoutyou,therewouldntbeaeandMillenniuwouldhavegoneunder.Ipnningtosplitthefeewithyou.Fiftyfifty.”
Sandergavehiasearchinglook.Afrownhadappearedonherbrow.Blokvistwasusedtohersilences.Finallysheshookherhead.
“Idontwantyouroney.”
“But”
“Idontwantonesinglekronafroyou,unlessitesintheforofpresentsonybirthday.”
“etothinkofit,Idontevenknohenyourbirthdayis.”
“Youreajoualist.Checkitout.”
“Iserious,Lisbeth.Aboutsplittingtheoney.”
“Iserioustoo.Ionlywanttoborrowit,andIneedittoorrow.”
Shedidntevenaskhowuchhersharewouldbe.“Illbehappytogotothebankwithyoutodayandlendyoutheaountyouneed.Butattheendoftheyearletshaveanothertalkaboutyourshare.”Hehelduphishand.“Andbytheway,whenisyourbirthday”
“OnWalpurgisNight,”shereplied.“Veryfitting,dontyouthinkThatswhenIgadaroundwithabroobetweenylegs.”
ShendedinZürichat7:30intheeveningandtookataxitotheMatterhoHotel.ShehadedaroounderthenaeofIreneNesser,andsheidentifiedherselfusingaNorwegianpassportinthatnae.IreneNesserhadshoulderlengthblondehair.SanderhadboughtawiginStockhondused10,000kronorofwhatshehadborrowedfroBlokvisttobuytwopassportsthroughoneofthecontactsinPguesinteationalwork.
Shewenttoherroo,lockedthedoor,andgotundressed.Sheyonthebedandlookedupattheceilingintheroothatcost1,600kronorpeight.Shefeltepty.Shehadalreadyrunthroughhalfthesushedborrowed,andeventhoughshehadaddedineverykronaofherownsavings,shewasstillonatightbudget.Shepedthinkingandfelsleepalostatonce.
Sheawokejustafter5:00intheoing.Sheshoweredandspentalongtieaskingthetattooonheeckwithathickyerofskincolouredlotionandpowderoverit.Theseconditeonherchecklistwastoakeanappointentatthebeautysaloninthelobbyofasignificantlyoreexpensivehotelfor6:30thatoing.Sheboughtanotherblondewig,thisoneinapageboystyle,andthenshehadaanicure,gettingpinknailsattachedtoherownchewedones.Shealsogotfalseeyeshes,orepowder,rouge,andfinallylipstickandotherakeup.Nochangefro8,000kronor.
ShepaidwithacreditcardinthenaeofMonicaSholes,andsheshowedtheherBritishpassportwiththatnae.
NextwasCaillesHouseofFashiondownthestreet.Afteranhourshecaeoutwearingbckboots,asandcolouredskirtwithatchingblouse,bcktights,awaistlengthjacket,andaberet.Everyiteboreanexpensivedesignerbel.Shehadletthesalesgirketheselection.ShehadalsochosenanexclusiveleatherbriefcaseandasallSasonitesuitcase.Thecrowningtoucheswerediscreetearringsandasiplegoldchainaroundheeck.Thecreditcardhadbeendebited44,000kronor.
ForthefirsttieinherlifeSanderhadabustlihatadeherwhenshegncedatherselfinthefulllengthirrorcatchherbreath.ThebreastswereasfakeasMonicaSholesidentity.TheywereadeoftexandhadbeenboughtinCopenhagenwherethetransvestitesshopped.
Shewasreadyforbattle.
Justafter9:00shewalkedtwoblockstothevenerableZiertalHotel,wheresheedarooinMonicaSholesnae.Shegaveageneroustiptoaboywhocarrieduphersuitcase.Thesuitewasasallone,costing22,000kronoraday.Shehadeditforonenight.Whenshewasaloneshetookalookaround.ShehadadazzlingviewofLakeZürich,whichdidntinterestherintheleast.Butshedidspendclosetofiveinutesexainingherselfintheirror.Shesawatotalstranger.BigbustedMonicaSholesinablondepageboywig,wearingoreakeupthanLisbethSanderdreaedofusinginawholeonth.Shelookeddifferent.
At9:30shehadbreakfastinthehotelbar:twocupsofcoffeeandabagelwithja.Thecostwas210kronor.Arethesepeoplesoftinthehead