himself. After that he opened a crime novel by Val McDermid entitled The Mermaids
Singing.
At around 7:00 Frode drove up and sat heavily in the chair across from him.
Blomkvist poured him a shot of Skåne aquavit.
“You stirred up some rather lively emotions today,” Frode said.
“I could see that.”
“Birger is a conceited fool.”
“I know that.”
“But Cecilia is not a conceited fool, and she’s furious.”
Mikael nodded.
“She has instructed me to see that you stop poking around in the family’s affairs.”
“I see. And what did you say to her?”
Frode looked at his glass of Skåne and downed the liquor in one gulp.
“My response was that Henrik has given me clear instructions about what he wants
you to do. As long as he doesn’t change those instructions, you will continue to be
employed under the terms of your contract. I expect you to do your best to fulfil
your part of the contract.”
Blomkvist looked up at the sky, where rain clouds had begun to gather.
“Looks like a storm is brewing,” Frode said. “If the winds get too strong, I’ll have to
back you up.”
“Thank you.”
They sat in silence for a while.
“Could I have another drink?”