“Some day we’re going to nail Herr Wennerström so hard Wall Street is going to
jump out of its socks. But today Millennium has to get out of the spotlight.”
“I know all that, but I don’t like coming across as a fucking bitch, and you’re being
forced into a disgusting situation if we pretend that there’s some sort of division
between you and me.”
“Ricky, as long as you and I trust each other we’ve got a chance. We have to play it
by ear, and right now it’s time to retreat.”
She reluctantly admitted that there was a depressing logic to what he said.
CHAPTER 4
Monday, December 23–Thursday, December 26
Berger stayed over the weekend. They got up only to go to the bathroom or to get
something to eat, but they had not only made love. They had lain head to foot for
hours and talked about the future, weighing up the possibilities, and the odds.
When dawn came on Monday morning it was the day before Christmas Eve and she
kissed him goodbye—until next time—and drove home.
Blomkvist spent Monday washing dishes and cleaning the apartment, then walking
down to the office and clearing out his desk. He had no intention of breaking ties
with the magazine, but he had eventually convinced Berger that he had to be
separated from the magazine for a time. He would work from home.
The office was closed for the Christmas holidays and all his colleagues were gone.
He was weeding through trays of papers and packing books in cartons to take away
when the telephone rang.
“I’m looking for Mikael Blomkvist,” said a hopeful but unfamiliar voice on the line.
“Speaking.”