Blomkvist said, “I’ve discovered a lot of secrets about you. How many people, for
example, know that you’re a hacker?”
“No-one.”
“No-one except me, you mean.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I want to know if you’re OK with me. If you trust me.”
She looked at him for a long moment. Finally, for an answer, she only shrugged.
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Do you trust me?” Blomkvist persisted.
“For the time being,” she said.
“Good. Let’s go over to see Frode.”
This was the first time Advokat Frode’s wife had met Salander. She gave her a wide-
eyed look at the same time as she smiled politely. Frode’s face lit up when he saw
Salander. He stood to welcome them.
“How nice to see you,” he said. “I’ve been feeling guilty that I never properly
expressed my gratitude for the extraordinary work you did for us. Both last winter
and now, this summer.”
Salander gave him a suspicious glare.
“I was paid,” she said.
“That’s not it. I made some assumptions about you when I first saw you. You would
be kind to pardon me in retrospect.”
Blomkvist was surprised. Frode was capable of asking a twenty-five-year-old
pierced and tattooed girl to forgive him for something for which he had no need to
apologise! The lawyer climbed a few notches in Blomkvist’s eyes. Salander stared
straight ahead, ignoring him.