who had lambasted his colleagues for not publishing the truth, here he sat,
discussing, negotiating even, the most macabre cover-up he had ever heard of.
He sat in silence for a long time. Then he nodded his assent.
“So be it,” Frode said. “And with regard to Henrik’s offer for financial
compensation...”
“He can shove it up his backside, and Dirch, I want you to leave now. I understand
your position, but right now I’m so furious with you and Henrik and Harriet that if
you stay any longer we might not be friends any more.”
Frode made no move to go.
“I can’t leave yet. I’m not done. I have another message to deliver, and you’re not
going to like this one either. Henrik is insisting that I tell you tonight. You can go up
to the hospital and flay him tomorrow morning if you wish.”
Blomkvist looked up and stared at him.
Frode went on. “This has got to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I
think that only complete candour with all the cards on the table can save the
situation now.”
“So it’s candour at last, is it?”
“When Henrik convinced you to take the job last Christmas,” Dirch said, ignoring his
sarcasm, “neither he nor I thought that anything would come of it. That was exactly
what he said, but he wanted to give it one last try. He had analysed your situation,
particularly with the help of the report that Fröken Salander put together. He
played on your isolation, he offered good pay, and he used the right bait.”
“Wennerström.”
Frode nodded.
“You were bluffing?”
“No, no,” Frode said.
Salander raised an eyebrow with interest.