Salander fast-forwarded through the pictures from the other PC, which
photographed the gate and the road outside the front door. She could see who
had gone past during the day.
At 19:12 Nilsson came home.
At 19:42 the Saab that belonged to Östergården drove towards Hedestad.
At 20:02 the Saab was on its way back.
At 21:00 Martin Vanger’s car went by. Three minutes later Blomkvist left the house.
At 21:50, Martin Vanger appeared in the camera’s viewfinder. He stood at the gate
for over a minute, looking at the house, then peering through the kitchen window.
He went up to the porch and tried the door, taking out a key. He must have
discovered that they had put in a new lock. He stood still for a moment before he
turned on his heel and left the house.
Salander felt an ice-cold fear in her gut.
Martin Vanger once again left Blomkvist alone. He was still in his uncomfortable
position with his hands behind his back and his neck fastened by a thin chain to an
eyelet in the floor. He fiddled with the handcuffs, but he knew that he would not be
able to get them off. The cuffs were so tight that his hands were numb.
He had no chance. He shut his eyes.
He did not know how much time had passed when he heard Martin’s footsteps
again. He appeared in Blomkvist’s field of vision. He looked worried.
“Uncomfortable?” he said.
“Very,” said Blomkvist.
“You’ve only got yourself to blame. You should have gone back to Stockholm.”
“Why do you kill, Martin?”