“I suppose she couldn’t resist the temptation to look out at the accident scene.”
Blomkvist thought for a moment. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t just
go to Henrik, as you had intended.”
“Why do you think?”
“I really don’t know. Henrik would certainly have helped you. Martin would have
been removed immediately—probably sent to Australia for some sort of therapy or
treatment.”
“You haven’t understood what happened.”
Up to this point Blomkvist had only referred to Gottfried’s sexual assault on Martin,
leaving Harriet’s role out of it.
“Gottfried molested Martin,” he said cautiously. “I suspect that he also molested
you.”
Harriet Vanger did not move a muscle. Then she took a deep breath and buried her
face in her hands. It took five seconds before Jeff was beside her, asking if
everything was all right. Harriet looked at him and gave him a faint smile. Then she
astonished Blomkvist by standing up and giving her studs manager a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. She turned to Blomkvist with her arm around Jeff’s shoulder.
“Jeff, this is Mikael, an old...friend from the past. He’s brought problems and bad
news, but we’re not going to shoot the messenger. Mikael, this is Jeff Cochran, my
oldest son. I also have another son and a daughter.”
Blomkvist stood up to shake hands with Jeff, saying that he was sorry to have
brought bad news which had upset his mother. Harriet exchanged a few words
with Jeff and then sent him away. She sat down again and seemed to have made a
decision.
“No more lies. I accept that it’s all over. In some sense I’ve been waiting for this day
since 1966. For years I was terrified that someone might come up to me and say my
name. But you know what? All of a sudden I don’t care any more. My crime falls
outside the statute of limitations. And I don’t give a shit what people think about
me.”