CHAPTER 24
Friday, July 11–Saturday, July 12
Martin Vanger bent down and went through Mikael’s pockets. He took the key.
“Smart of you to change the lock,” he said. “I’m going to take care of your girlfriend
when she gets back.”
Blomkvist reminded himself that Martin was a negotiator experienced from many
industrial battles. He had already seen through one bluff.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why all of this?” Blomkvist gestured vaguely at the space around him.
Martin bent down and put one hand under Blomkvist’s chin, lifting his head so their
eyes met.
“Because it’s so easy,” he said. “Women disappear all the time. Nobody misses
them. Immigrants. Whores from Russia. Thousands of people pass through Sweden
every year.”
He let go of Blomkvist’s head and stood up.
Martin’s words hit Blomkvist like a punch in the face.
Christ Almighty. This is no historical mystery. Martin Vanger is murdering women today.
And I wandered right into it...
“As it happens, I don’t have a guest right now. But it might amuse you to know that
while you and Henrik sat around babbling this winter and spring, there was a girl
down here. Irina from Belarus. While you sat and ate dinner with me, she was
locked up in the cage down here. It was a pleasant evening as I remember, no?”
Martin perched on the table, letting his legs dangle. Blomkvist shut his eyes. He
suddenly felt acid in his throat and he swallowed hard. The pain in his gut and in
his ribs seemed to swell.