“ItwasntpartofyassignenttolookatthequestionoffactintheWennerstraffair,butIdidfollowthetriandhavetoaditthatIwasactuallyfbbergasted.Thethingfeltwrong,anditstotallyoutofcharacterforMikaelBlokvisublishsoethingthatseestobesooffthewall.”
Sanderscratchedheeck.Frodelookedpatient.AranskywonderedwhetherheightbeistakenorwhetherSanderreallywasunsurehowtocontinue.TheSanderhekneasneverunsureorhesitant.Finallysheseeedtoakeupherind.
“Quiteofftherecord,sotospeakIhaventstudiedtheWennerstraffairproperly,butIreallythinkthatMikaelBlokvistwassetup.Ithinktheressoethingtotallydifferentinthisstorythanwhatthecourtsverdictisindicating.”
ThewyerscrutinisedSanderwithsearchingeyes,andAranskynoticedthatforthefirsttiesinceshebeganherreport,theclientwasshowingorethanapoliteinterest.HeadeaentalnotethattheWennerstraffairheldacertaininterestforFrode.Correction,Aranskythoughtatonce,FrodewasnotinterestedintheWennerstraffairitwaswhenSanderhintedthatBlokvistwassetupthatFrodereacted.
“Howdoyouean,exactly”Frodesaid.
“Itsspecutiononypart,butIconvincedthatsoeorickedhi.”
“Andwhatakesyouthinkso”
“EverythinginBlokvistsbackgroundshowsthathesaverycarefulreporter.Everycontroversialrevetionhepublishedbeforewasalwayswelldocuented.Iwenttocourtonedayandlistened.Heseeedtohavegivenithoutafight.Thatdoesntaordwithhischaracteratall.Ifwearetobelievethecourt,headeupastoryaboutWennerstrwithoutashredofevidenceandpublisheditlikesoesortofjoualisticsuicidebober.ThatssiplynotBlokvistsstyle.”
“Sowhatdoyouthinkhappened”
“Icanonlyguess.Blokvistbelievedinhisstory,butsoethinghappenedalongthewayandtherationtuedouttobefalse.Thisintueansthatthesourcewassoeonehetrustedorthatsoeonedeliberatelyfedhifalserationwhichsoundsiprobablyplicated.Thealteativeisthathewassubjectedtosuchaseriousthreatthathethrewinthetowendwouldratherbeseenasaninpetentidiotthanfightback.ButIjustspecuting,asIsaid.”
WhenSanderadeanattepttocontinueheraount,Frodehelduphishand.Hesatforaoent,druinghisfingersonthearrestofhischairbeforehehesitantlytuedtoheragain.
“IfweshoulddecidetoengageyoutounravelthetruthintheWennerstraffairhowuchchanceistherethatyoudfindoutanything”
“Icantanswerthat.Thereaynotbeanythingtofind.”
“Butwouldyoubewillingtoakeanattept”
Sheshrugged.“Itsnotypcetodecide.IworkforHerrAransky,andhedecideswhatjobshewantstoassigntoe.Andthenitdependswhatsortofrationyourelookingfor.”
“LeteputitthiswayandItakeitthatwerespeakinginconfidence”Aranskynodded.“Idontknowanythingaboutthisparticuratter,butIdoknowbeyondanydoubtthatinothersituationsWennerstrhasacteddishonestly.TheWennerstrcasehasseriouslyaffectedMikaelBlokvistslife,andIhaveaninterestindisceingwhethertheresanythinginyourspecutions.”
Theconversationhadtakenanunexpectedtu,andAranskywasinstantlyonthealert.WhatFrodewasaskingwasforMiltonSecuritokearoundinacasethathadalreadybeenconcluded.AcaseinwhichthereayhavebeensoesortofthreattotheanBlokvist,andiftheytookthison,MiltonwouldriskcollidingwithWennerstrsregientofwyers.AranskywasnotintheleastfortedbythethoughtoftuingSanderlooseinsuchasituation,likeacruiseissileoutofcontrol.
Itwasnoterelyaatterofconceforthepany.SanderhadadepinthatshedidnotwantAranskytoactassoesortofworriedstepfather,andsincetheiragreeenthehadbeencarefulnevertobehavelikeone,butinrealityhewouldneverworryingabouther.HesoetiescaughthiselfparingSandertohisdaughters.Heconsideredhiselfagoodfatherwhodidnotinterfereunnecessarilyintheirlives.ButheknewthathewouldnottolerateitifhisdaughtersbehavedlikeSanderorlivedthelifesheled.
InthedepthsofhisCroatianorpossiblyBosnianorArenianhearthehadneverbeenabletoshedtheconvictionthatSanderslifewasheadingfordisaster.Sheseeedtheperfectvictiforanyonewhowishedherill,andhedreadedtheoinghewouldbeawakenedbythenewsthatsoeonehaddoneherhar.
“Aninvestigationofthiskindcouldgetexpensive,”Aranskysaid,issuingawaingsoastogaugetheseriousnessofFrodesinquiry.
“Thenwellsetaceiling,”Frodesaid.“Idontdeandtheipossible,butitsobviousthatyourcolleague,justasyouassurede,isexceedinglypetent.”
“Sander”Aranskysaid,tuingtoherwitharaisedeyebrow.
“Inotworkingonanythingelserightnow.”
“OK.ButIwantustobeinagreeentabouttheconstraintsofthejob.Letsheartherestofyourreport.”
“Thereisntuchoreapartfrohisprivatelife.In1986hearriedMonicaAbrahassonandthesaeyeartheyhadadaughter,Peil.Thearriagedidntst；theyweredivorcedin1991.Abrahassonhasrearried,buttheyseetobefriendsstill.ThedaughterliveswithherotheranddoesntseeBlokvistoften.”
FrodeaskedfororecoffeeandthentuedtoSander.
“Yousaidthateveryonehassecrets.Didyoufindany”
“Ieantthatallpeoplehavethingstheyconsidertobeprivateandthattheydontgoaroundairinginpublic.Blokvistisobviouslyabighitwithwoen.Heshadseveralloveaffairsandagreatanycasualflings.Butonepersonhaskepttuingupinhislifeovertheyears,anditsanunusualretionship.”
“Inwhatway”
“ErikaBerger,editorinchiefofMillenniu:uppercssgirl,Swedishother,BelgianfatherresidentinSweden.BergerandBlokvistetinjoualisschoondhavehadanonandoffretionshipeversince.”
“Thataynotbesounusual,”Frodesaid.
“No,possiblynot.ButBergerhappenstobearriedtotheartistGregerBeckan,ainorcelebritywhohasdonealotofterriblethingsinpublicvenues.”
“Soshesunfaithful.”
“Beckanknowsabouttheirretionship.Itsasituationapparentlyaeptedbyallpartiesconceed.SoetiesshesleepsatBlokvistsandsoetiesathoe.Idontknowexactlyhowitworks,butitwasprobablyacontributingfactortothebreakupofBlokvistsarriagetoAbrahasson.”
CHAPTER3
Friday,Deceber20–Saturday,Deceber21
ErikaBergerlookedupquizzicallywhenanapparentlyfreezingBlokvistcaeintotheeditorialoffice.MillenniusofficeswereinthecentreofthetrendysectionofGtgatan,abovetheofficesofGreenpeace.Therentwasactuallyabittoosteepfortheagazine,buttheyhadalgreedtokeepthespace.
Shegncedattheclock.Itwas5:10,anddarknesshadfallenoverSt船说