bound to come and see him. He could not help but be concerned that she might
have discussed what had happened with some outsider.
She was going to have to be kept in check. She had to understand who was in
charge. So he told her that this time the meeting would be at his home near
Odenplan, not at the office. Upon hearing this news, Salander was silent for a long
time on the other end of the telephone before she finally agreed.
She had planned to meet him at his office, exactly like last time. Now she was
forced to see him in unfamiliar territory. The meeting was set for Friday evening.
She had been given the building code, and she rang his doorbell at 8:30, half an
hour later than agreed. That was how much time she had needed in the darkness of
the building’s stairwell to run through her plan one last time, consider alternatives,
steel herself, and mobilise the courage she would need.
At 8:00 Blomkvist switched off his computer and put on his outdoor clothing. He
left the lights on in his office. Outside the sky was bright with stars and the night
was freezing. He walked briskly up the hill, past Vanger’s house, taking the road to
Östergården. Beyond Vanger’s house he turned off to the left, following an uglier
path along the shore. The lighted buoys flickered out on the water, and the lights
from Hedestad gleamed prettily in the dark. He needed fresh air, but above all he
wanted to avoid the spying eyes of Isabella Vanger. Not far from Martin Vanger’s
house he rejoined the road and arrived at Cecilia Vanger’s door just after 8:30. They
went straight to her bedroom.
They met once or twice a week. Cecilia had not only become his lover out here in
his place of exile, she had also become the person he had begun to confide in. It
was significantly more rewarding discussing Harriet Vanger with her than with her
uncle.
The plan began to go wrong almost from the start.
Bjurman was wearing a bathrobe when he opened the door to his apartment. He
was cross at her arriving late and motioned her brusquely inside. She was wearing
black jeans, a black T-shirt, and the obligatory leather jacket. She wore black boots
and a small rucksack with a strap across her chest.