can’t ignore the opportunity—he’s the first person who’s said he’s willing to go on
record with evidence against Wennerström.”
“We couldn’t use it even if you came back with incontrovertible proof that it was
Wennerström who strangled the girl. Not after so many years. He’d massacre us in
court.”
“The thought had crossed my mind, but it’s no good: he was plugging away at the
Stockholm School of Economics and had no connection with the Vanger
companies at the time she disappeared.” Blomkvist paused. “Erika, I’m not going to
leave Millennium, but it’s important for it to look as if I have. You and Christer have
to go on running the magazine. If you can...if you have a chance to...arrange a
cease-fire with Wennerström, then do it. You can’t do that if I’m still on the editorial
board.”
“OK, but it’s a rotten situation, and I think you’re grasping at straws going to
Hedestad.”
“Have you a better idea?”
Berger shrugged. “We ought to start chasing down sources right now. Build up the
story from the beginning. And do it right this time.”
“Ricky—that story is dead as a doornail.”
Dejected, Berger rested her head on her hands. When she spoke, at first she did not
want to meet Blomkvist’s eyes.
“I’m so fucking angry with you. Not because the story you wrote was baseless—I
was in on it as much as you were. And not because you’re leaving your job as
publisher—that’s a smart decision in this situation. I can go along with making it
look like a schism or a power struggle between you and me—I understand the
logic when it’s a matter of making Wennerström believe I’m a harmless bimbo and
you’re the real threat.” She paused and now looked him resolutely in the eye. “But I
think you’re making a mistake. Wennerström isn’t going to fall for it. He’s going to
keep on destroying Millennium. The only difference is that starting from today, I
have to fight him alone, and you know that you’re needed more than ever on the
editorial board. OK, I’d love to wage war against Wennerström, but what makes me
so cross is that you’re abandoning ship all of a sudden. You’re leaving me in the
lurch when things are absolutely at their worst ever.”