船说 Aranskyaeptedherasshewas,butshewasnotallowedtoeettheclients.Todaysassignentwasanexception.
SanderwasdressedforthedayinabckTshirtwithapictureonitofE.T.withfangs,andthewordsIAMALSOANALIEN.Shehadonabckskirtthatwasfrayedatthehe,awooutbck,idlengthleatherjacket,rivetbelt,heavyDocMartenboots,andhorizontallystriped,greenandredkneesocks.Shehadputonakeupinacolourscheethatindicatedsheightbecolourblind.Inotherwords,shewasexceptionallydeckedout.
Aranskysighedandshiftedhisgazetotheconservativelydressedguestwiththethickgsses.DirchFrode,awyer,hadinsistedoneetingandbeingabletoaskquestionsoftheeployeewhopreparedthereport.Aranskyhaddoneallhecivillycoulreventtheeetingtakingpce,sayingthatSanderhadacold,wasaway,orwasswapedwithotherwork.Thewyerrepliedcallythatitadenodifferencetheatterwasnoturgentandhecouldeasilywaitacoupleofdays.Atsttherewasnowaytoavoidbringingthetogether.NowFrode,whoseeedtobeinhistesixties,waslookingatLisbethSanderwithevidentfascination.Sandergloweredbackwithanexpressionthatdidnotindicateanywarfeelings.
AranskysighedandlookedonceoreatthefoldershehadpcedonhisdeskbelledCARLMIKAELBLOMKVIST.Thenaewasfollowedbyasocialsecuritynuber,neatlyprintedonthecover.Hesaidthenaeoutloud.HerrFrodesnappedoutofhisbewitchedstateandtuedtoAransky.
“SowhatcanyoutelleaboutMikaelBlokvist”hesaid.
“ThisisMs.Sander,whopreparedthereport.”Aranskyhesitatedasecondandthenwentonwithasilethatwasintendedtoengenderconfidence,butwhichseeedhelplesslyapologetic.“Dontbefooledbyheryouth.Sheisourabsolutebestresearcher.”
“Ipersuadedofthat,”Frodesaidinadrytohathintedattheopposite.“Tellewhatshefoundout.”
ItwasclearthatFrodehadnoideahowtoacttowardsSander.HeresortedtodirectingthequestiontoAransky,asifshehadnotbeenintheroo.Sanderblewabigbubblewithhergu.BeforeAranskycouldanswer,shesaid,“Couldyouasktheclientwhetherhewouldpreferthelongortheshortversion”
Therewasabrief,ebarrassedsilencebeforeFrodefinallytuedtoSanderandtriedtorepairthedaagebyassuingafriendly,avuncurtone.
“Iwouldbegratefuliftheyoungdywouldgiveeaverbalsuaryoftheresults.”
ForaoentherexpressionwassosurprisinglyhostilethatitsentacoldshiverdownFrodesspine.ThenjustasquicklyherexpressionsoftenedandFrodewonderedwhetherhehadiaginedthatlook.Whenshebegantospeakshesoundedlikeacivilservant.
“Allowetosayfirstthatthiswasnotaveryplicatedassignent,apartfrothefactthatthedescriptionofthetaskitselfwassoewhatvague.Youwantedtoknoweverythingthatcouldbedugupabouthi,butgavenoindicationofwhethertherewereanythinginparticuryouwerelookingfor.Forthisreasonitssoethingofapotpourriofhislife.Thereportis193pageslong,but120pagesarecopiesofarticleshewroteorpressclippings.Blokvistisapublicpersonwithfewsecretsandnotveryuchtohide.”
“Buthedoeshavesoesecrets”Frodesaid.
“Everyonehassecrets,”sherepliedneutrally.“Itsjustaatteroffindingoutwhattheyare.”
“Letshear.”
“MikaelBlokvistwasboonJanuary18,1960,whichakeshifortytwoyearsold.HewasboinBorlngebuthasneverlivedthere.Hisparents,KurtandAnitaBlokvist,werearoundthirtyfivewhenthechildwasbo.Bothhavesincedied.Hisfatherwasaachineryinstallerandovedaroundagooddeal.Hisother,asfarasIcouldsee,wasneveranythingbutahousewife.ThefailyovedhousetoStockholwhenMikaelstartedschool.HehasasisterthreeyearsyoungeaedAnnikawhoisawyer.Healsohassoecousins,bothaleandfeale.Wereyoupnningtoservecoffee”
ThisstwasdirectedatAransky,whohastilypupedthreecupsofcoffeefrothetheroshehadorderedfortheeeting.HeotionedforSandertogoon.
“Soin1966thefailylivedinLilEssingen.BlokvistwenttoschoolfirstinBloaandtherepschoolonKungsholen.Hehaddecentgraduatingarkstherearecopiesinthefolder.DuringhisprepschooldayshestudiedusicandpyedbassinarockbandnaedBootstrap,whichactuallyputoutasinglethatwaspyedontheradiointhesuerof1979.Afterprepschoolheworkedasaticketcollectorinthetunnelbana,savedsoeoney,andtravelledabroad.Hewasawayforayear,ostlybuingaroundAsiaIndia,ThaindandaswingdowntoAustralia.HebeganstudyingtobeajoualistinStockholwhenhewastwentyone,butinterruptedhisstudiesafterthefirstyeartodohisilitaryserviceasarifleaninKirunainLapnd.Itwassoesortofachounit,andheleftwithgoodarks.Afterilitaryservicehepletedhisjoualisdegreeandhasworkedinthefieldeversince.Howdetaileddoyouwantetobe”
“Justtellwhatyouthinkisiportant.”
“HeesoffalittlelikePracticalPiginTheThreeLittlePigs.Sofarhehasbeenanexcellentjoualist.Intheeightieshehadalotofteporaryjobs,firstintheprovincialpressandtheninStockhol.Theresalist.HisbreakthroughcaewiththestoryabouttheBearGangthebankrobbersheidentified.”
“KalleBlokvist.”
“Hehatesthenicknae,whichisunderstandable.SoebodydgetafatlipiftheyevercalledePippiLongstockingonanewspaperpcard.”
ShecastadarklookatAransky,whoswallowedhard.OnorethanoneoasionhehadthoughtofSanderaspreciselyPippiLongstocking.Hewavedforhertogetonwithit.
“Onesourcedecresthatuptothenhewantedtobeacriereporterandheinteedasoneataneveningpaper.Buthehasbeeknownforhisworkasapoliticandfinancialreporter.Hehaspriarilybeenafreencer,withonefulltiepositionataneveningpaperintheteeighties.Heleftin1990whenhehelpedstarttheonthlyagazineMillenniu.Theagazinebeganasarealoutsider,withoutanybigpublishingpanytoholditshand.Itscircutionhasgrownandtodayis21,000copiesonthly.TheeditorialofficeisonGtgatanonlyafewblocksfrohere.”
“Aleftwingagazine.”
“Thatdependsonhowyoudefiheconceptleftwing.Millenniuisgenerallyviewedascriticalofsociety,butIguessingtheanarchiststhinkitsawipybourgeoiscrapagazinealongthelinesofArenaorOrdfront,whiletheModerateStudentsAssociationprobablythinksthattheeditorsareallBolsheviks.ThereisnothingtoindicatethatBlokvisthaseverbeenactivepolitically,evenduringtheleftwingwavewhenhewasgoinrepschool.WhilehewaspluggingawayattheSchoolofJoualishewaslivingwithagirlwhoatthetiewasactiveintheSyndicalistsandtodaysitsinParliaentasarepresentativeoftheLeftparty.Heseestohavebeengiventheleftwingstappriarilybecauseasafinancialjoualisthespecialisesininvestigativereportingaboutcorruptionandshadytransactionsinthecorporateworld.Hehasdonesoedevastatingindividualportraitsofcaptainsofindustryandpoliticianswhichwereostlikelywelldeservedandcausedanuberofresignationsandlegalrepercussions.TheostwellknownwastheArbogaaffair,whichresultedintheforcedresignationofaConservativepoliticianandthesentencingofaforercouncillortoayearinprisonforebezzleent.Callingattentiontocriescanhardlybeconsideredanindicationthatsoeoneisleftwing.”
“Iunderstandwhatyouean.Whatelse”
“Hehaswrittentwos.OneabouttheArbogaaffairandoneaboutfinancialjoualisentitledTheKnightsTepr,whichcaeoutthreeyearsago.Ihaventreadthe,butjudgingfrothereviewsitseestohavebeencontroversial.Itproptedagooddealofdebateintheedia.”
“Money”Frodesaid.
“Hesnotrich,buthesnotstarving.Iaxretusareattachedtothereport.Hehasabout250,000SEKinthebank,inbotharetireentfundandasavingsaount.Hehasanaountofaround100,000kronorthatheusesascashforworkingexpenses,travendsuch.Heownsacoopapartentthatspaidoff700squarefeetonBelnsgatanandhehasnoloansordebts.HehasoneotherassetsoepropertyinSandhanoutinthearchipego.Itsacottageof270squarefeet,fuishedasasuercabinandbythewater,rightintheostattractivepartofthevilge.Apparentlyanuncleofhisboughtitintheforties,whensuchthingswerestillpossiblefooralortals,andthecabinendedupinBlokvistshands.TheydividedthingsupsothathissistergottheparentsapartentinLilEssingenandBlokvistgotthecabin.Ihavenoideawhatitightbeworthtodaycertainlyafewillionbutontheotherhandhedoesntseetowanttosell,andhegoesouttoSandhanfairlyoften.”
“Ine”
“HespartownerofMillenniu,butheonlytakesoutabout12,000insaryeachonth.Therestheeasfrohisfreencejobsthetotalvaries.Hehadabigyearthreeyearsagowhenhetookinaround450,000.Lastyearheonlyade120,000frofreencejobs.”
“Hehaay150,000intaxesinadditiontowyersfees,etcetera,”Frodesaid.“Letsassuethatthetotalisratherhigh.Hellsobelosingoneywhileservinghisgaolter.”
“Whicheansthathesgoingtobecleanedout,”Sandersaid.
“Ishehonest”
“Thatshistrustcapital,sotospeak.Hisiageistoappearastheguardianofrobustoralityasopposedtothebusinessworld,andheisinvitedprettyregurlontificateontelevision.”
“Thereprobablyisntuchleftofthatcapitafterhisconvictiontoday,”Frodesaid.
“IdontwanttocithatIknowexactlywhatdeandsareadeonajoualist,butafterthissetbackitwillprobablybealongtiebeforeMasterDetectiveBlokvistwinstheGrandPrizeforJoualis.Hesreallyadeafoolofhiselfthistie,”Sandersaid.“IfIayakeapersonalent”
Aranskyopenedhiseyeswide.IntheyearsSanderhadworkedforhi,shehadneveradeasinglepersonalentinaninvestigationofanindividual.Bonedryfactswereallthatatteredtoher.