“I see. You think I want to get rid of you.” He paused. “Mikael, we’ll have to talk
about this later. I don’t really have time to devote to my hobby on Millennium’s
board, and I wish I’d never agreed to Henrik’s proposal. But believe me—I’m going
to do my best to make sure that Millennium survives.”
“I’ve never had any doubt about that,” Blomkvist said.
“If we make an appointment for sometime next week we can go over the finances
and I can give you my views on the matter. But my basic attitude is
that Millennium cannot actually afford to have one of its key people sitting up here
on Hedeby Island twiddling his thumbs. I like the magazine and I think we can
make it stronger together, but you’re crucial to that task. I’ve wound up in a conflict
of loyalties here. Either I follow Henrik’s wishes or carry out my job on Millennium’s
board.”
Blomkvist changed into his tracksuit and went for a run out to the Fortress and
down to Gottfried’s cabin before he headed home at a slower pace along the
water. Frode was sitting at the garden table. He waited patiently as Mikael drank a
bottle of water and towelled the sweat from his face.
“That doesn’t look so healthy in this heat.”
“Oh, come on,” Blomkvist said.
“I was wrong. Cecilia isn’t the main person who’s after Martin. It’s Isabella. She’s
busy mobilising the Vanger clan to tar and feather you and possibly burn you at the
stake too. She’s being backed up by Birger.”
“Isabella?”
“She’s a malicious, petty woman who doesn’t like other people in general. Right
now it seems that she detests you in particular. She’s spreading stories that you’re a
swindler who duped Henrik into hiring you, and that you got him so worked up
that he had a heart attack.”
“I hope no-one believes that?”
“There’s always someone willing to believe malicious rumours.”