Now alarm began spreading through the group. Even Malm thought for a moment
that Blomkvist was serious. Then they all noticed his broad smile.
“What you have to do this autumn is play a double game. The disagreeable fact is
that our dear managing editor, Janne Dahlman, is moonlighting as an informer for
Hans-Erik Wennerström. This means that the enemy is being kept informed of
exactly what’s going on in our editorial offices. This explains a number of setbacks
we’ve experienced. You especially, Sonny, when advertisers who seemed positive
pulled out without warning.”
Dahlman had never been popular in the office, and the revelation was apparently
not a shock to anyone. Blomkvist cut short the murmuring that started up.
“The reason that I’m telling you this is because I have absolute confidence in all of
you. I know that you’ve all got your heads screwed on straight. That’s why I also
know that you’ll play along with what takes place this autumn. It’s very important
that Wennerström believes that Millennium is on the verge of collapse. It will be
your job to make sure he does.”
“What’s our real situation?” Cortez said.
“OK, here it is: by all accounts Millennium should be on its way to the grave. I give
you my word that that’s not going to happen. Millennium is stronger today than it
was a year ago. When this meeting is over, I’m going to disappear again for about
two months. Towards the end of October I’ll be back. Then we’re going to clip
Wennerström’s wings.”
“How are we going to do that?” Nilsson said.
“Sorry, Monika. I don’t want to give you the details, but I’m writing a new story, and
this time we’re going to do it right. I’m thinking of having roast Wennerström for
the Christmas party and various critics for dessert.”
The mood turned cheerful. Blomkvist wondered how he would have felt if he were
one of them sitting listening to all this. Dubious? Most likely. But apparently he still
had some “trust capital” among Millennium’s small group of employees. He held up
his hand.
“If this is going to work, it’s important that Wennerström believes that Millennium is
on the verge of collapse because I don’t want him to start some sort of retaliation
or indeed get rid of the evidence which we mean to expose. So we’re going to start