Only minutes after Frode had gone home, Martin Vanger drove up and parked his
car by the road in front of the cottage. He came over and said hello. Mikael wished
him a happy Midsummer and asked if he’d like a drink.
“No, it’s better if I don’t. I’m just here to change my clothes and then I’m going to
drive back to town to spend the evening with Eva.”
Blomkvist waited.
“I’ve talked to Cecilia. She’s a little traumatised just now—she and Henrik have
always been close. I hope you’ll forgive her if she says anything...unpleasant.”
“I’m very fond of Cecilia.”
“I know that. But she can be difficult. I just want you to know that she’s very much
against your going on digging into our past.”
Blomkvist sighed. Everyone in Hedestad seemed to know why Vanger had hired
him.
“What’s your feeling?”
“This thing with Harriet has been Henrik’s obsession for decades. I don’t
know...Harriet was my sister, but somehow it feels all so far away. Dirch says that
you have a contract that only Henrik can break, and I’m afraid that in his present
condition it would do more harm than good.”
“So you want me to continue?”
“Have you made any progress?”
“I’m sorry, Martin, but it would be a breach of that contract if I told you anything
without Henrik’s permission.”