hegirlwiththedragontattoo
larssonstieg
prologue
afridayinnovember
ithappenedeveryyear,wasalmostaritual.andthiswashiseighty-secondbirthday.when,asusual,theflowerwasdelivered,hetookoffthewrappingpaperandthenpickedupthetelephoocalldetectivesuperintendentmorellwho,whenheretired,hadmovedtolakesiljanindalarna.theywerenotonlythesameage,theyhadbeenbornonthesameday—whichwassomethingofanironyunderthecircumstances.theoldpolicemanwassittingwithhiscoffee,waiting,expectingthecall.
“itarrived.”
“whatisitthisyear?”
“idon’tknowwhatkinditis.i’llhavetogetsomeootellmewhatitis.it’swhite.”
“noletter,isuppose.”
“justtheflower.theframeisthesamekindaslastyear.oneofthosedo-it-yourselfones.”
“postmark?”
“stockholm.”
“handwriting?”
“sameasalways,allincapitals.upright,neatlettering.”
withthat,thesubjectwasexhausted,andnotanotherwordwasexchangedforalmostaminute.theretiredpolicemanleanedbackinhiskitchenchairanddrewonhispipe.heknewhewasnolongerexpectedtoeupwithapithymentoranysharpquestionwhichwouldshedanewlightonthecase.thosedayshadlongsincepassed,andtheexchangebetweenthetwomenseemedlikearitualattachingtoamysterywhichno-oneelseinthewholeworldhadtheleastinterestinunravelling.
thelatinnamewasleptospermumrubite.itwasaplantaboutfourincheshighwithsmall,heather-likefoliageandawhiteflowerwithfivepetalsaboutoneinchacross.
theplantwasnativetotheaustralianbushanduplands,whereitwastobefoundamongtussocksofgrass.thereitwascalleddesertsnow.someoneatthebotanicalgardensinuppsalawouldlaterconfirmthatitwasaplantseldomcultivatedinsweden.thebotanistwroteinherreportthatitwasrelatedtotheteatreeandthatitwassometimesconfusedwithitsmoremoncousinleptospermumscoparium,whichgrewinabundanceinnewzealand.whatdistinguishedthem,shepointedout,wasthatrubitehadasmallnumberofmicroscopicpinkdotsatthetipsofthepetals,givingtheflowerafaintpinkishtinge.
rubitewasaltogetheranunpretentiousflower.ithadnoknownmedicinalproperties,anditcouldnotinducehallucinatoryexperiences.itwasneitheredible,norhadauseinthemanufactureofplantdyes.ontheotherhand,theaboriginalpeopleofaustraliaregardedassacredtheregionandthefloraaroundayersrock.
thebotanistsaidthatsheherselfhadneverseenonebefore,butafterconsultinghercolleaguesshewastoreportthatattemptshadbeenmadetointroducetheplantatanurserying?teb,andthatitmight,ofcourse,becultivatedbyamateurbotanists.itwasdifficulttogrowinswedenbecauseitthrivedinadryclimateandhadtoremainindoorshalfoftheyear.itwouldnotthriveincalcareoussoilandithadtobewateredfrombelow.itneededpampering.
thefactofitsbeingsorareafloweroughttohavemadeiteasiertotracethesourceofthisparticularspecimen,butinpracticeitwasanimpossibletask.therewasnoregistrytolookitupin,nolicencestoexplore.anywherefromahandfultoafewhundredenthusiastscouldhavehadaesstoseedsorplants.andthosecouldhavechangedhandsbetweenfriendsorbeenboughtbymailorderfromanywhereineurope,anywhereintheantipodes.
butitwasonlyoneintheseriesofmystifyingflowersthateachyeararrivedbypostonthefirstdayofnovember.theywerealwaysbeautifulandforthemostpartrareflowers,alwayspressed,mountedonwater-colourpaperinasimpleframemeasuringsixinchesbyeleveninches.
thestrangestoryoftheflowershadneverbeenreportedinthepress;onlyaveryfewpeopleknewofit.thirtyyearsagotheregulararrivaloftheflowerwastheobjectofmuchscrutiny—atthenationalforensiclaboratory,amongfingerprintexperts,graphologists,criminalinvestigators,andoneortworelativesandfriendsoftherecipient.nowtheactorsinthedramawerebutthree:theelderlybirthdayboy,theretiredpolicedetective,andthepersonwhohadpostedtheflower.thefirsttwoatleasthadreachedsuchanagethatthegroupofinterestedpartieswouldsoonbefurtherdiminished.
thepolicemanwasahardenedveteran.hewouldneverfethisfirstcase,inwhichhehadhadtotakeintocustodyaviolentandappallinglydrunkworkeratanelectricalsubstationbeforehecausedothersharm.duringhiscareerhehadbroughtinpoachers,wifebeaters,conmen,carthieves,anddrunkdrivers.hehaddealtwithburglars,drugdealers,rapists,andonederangedbomber.hehadbeeninvolvedinninemurderormanslaughtercases.infiveofthesethemurdererhadcalledthepolicehimselfand,fullofremorse,confessedtohavingkilledhiswifeorbrotherorsomeotherrelative.twoothersweresolvedwithinafewdays.anotherrequiredtheassistanceofthenationalcriminalpoliceandtooktwoyears.
theninthcasewassolvedtothepolice’ssatisfaction,whichistosaythattheyknewwhothemurdererwas,butbecausetheevidencewassoinsubstantialthepublicprosecutordecidednottoproceedwiththecase.tothedetectivesuperintendent’sdismay,thestatuteoflimitationseventuallyputanendtothematter.butallinallhecouldlookbackonanimpressivecareer.
hewasanythingbutpleased.
forthedetective,the“caseofthepressedflowers”hadbeennaggingathimforyears—hislast,unsolved,andfrustratingcase.thesituationwasdoublyabsurdbecauseafterspendingliterallythousandsofhoursbrooding,ondutyandoff,hecouldnotsaybeyonddoubtthatacrimehadindeedbeenmitted.
thetwomenknewthatwhoeverhadmountedtheflowerswouldhaveworngloves,thattherewouldbenofingerprintsontheframeortheglass.theframecouldhavebeenboughtincamerashopsorstationerystorestheworldover.therewas,quitesimply,noleadtofollow.mostoftentheparcelwaspostedinstockholm,butthreetimesfromlondon,twicefromparis,twicefromcopenhagen,oncefrommadrid,oncefrombonn,andoncefrompensacola,florida.thedetectivesuperintendenthadhadtolookitupinanatlas.
afterputtingdownthetelephoheeighty-two-year-oldbirthdayboysatforalongtimelookingattheprettybutmeaninglessflowerwhosenamehedidnotyetknow.thenhelookedupatthewallabovehisdesk.therehungforty-threepressedflowersintheirframes.fourrowsoften,andoneatthebottomwithfour.inthetoprowonewasmissingfromtheninthslot.desertsnowwouldbenumberforty-four.
withoutwarninghebegantoweep.hesurprisedhimselfwiththissuddenburstofemotionafteralmostfortyyears.
part1
incentive
december20–january3
eighteenpercentofthewomeninswedenhaveatoimebeenthreatenedbyaman.
chapter1
friday,december20
thetrialwasirretrievablyover;everythingthatcouldbesaidhadbeensaid,buthehadneverdoubtedthathewouldlose.thewrittenverdictwashandeddownat10:00onfridaymorning,andallthatremainedwasasummingupfromthereporterswaitinginthecorridoroutsidethedistrictcourt.
“carl”mikaelblomkvistsawthemthroughthedoorwayandslowedhisstep.hehadnowishtodiscusstheverdict,butquestionswereunavoidable,andhe—ofallpeople—knewthattheyhadtobeaskedandanswered.thisishowitistobeacriminal,hethought.ontheothersideofthemicrophone.hestraightenedupandtriedtosmile.thereportersgavehimfriendly,almostembarrassedgreetings.
“let’ssee…aftonbladet,expressen,ttwireservice,tv4,and…whereareyoufrom?…ahyes,dagensnyheter.imustbeacelebrity,”blomkvistsaid.
“giveusasoundbite,kalleblomkvist.”itwasareporterfromoneoftheeveningpapers.
blomkvist,hearingthenickname,forcedhimselfasalwaysnottorollhiseyes.once,whenhewastwenty-threeandhadjuststartedhisfirstsummerjobasajournalist,blomkvisthadchanceduponagangwhichhadpulledofffivebankrobberiesoverthepasttwoyears.therewasnodoubtthatitwasthesamegangineveryinstance.theirtrademarkwastoholduptwobanksatatimewithmilitaryprecision.theyworemasksfromdisneyworld,soinevitablypolicelogicdubbedthemthedonaldduckgang.thenewspapersrenamedthemthebeargang,whichsoundedmoresinister,moreappropriatetothefactthatontwooasionstheyhadrecklesslyfiredwarningshotsandthreatenedcuriouspassersby.
theirsixthoutingwasatabankin?sterg?tlandattheheightoftheholidayseason.areporterfromthelocalradiostationhappenedtobeinthebankatthetime.assoonastherobbersweregonehewenttoapublictelephoneanddictatedhisstoryforlivebroadcast.
blomkvistwasspendingseveraldayswithagirlfriendatherparents’summercabinnearkatrineholm.exactlywhyhemadetheconnectionhecouldnotexplain,eventothepolice,butashewaslisteningtothenewsreportherememberedagroupoffourmeninasummercabinafewhundredfeetdowntheroad.hehadseenthemplayingbadmintonoutintheyard:fourblond,athletictypesinshortswiththeirshirtsoff.theywereobviouslybodybuilders,andtherehadbeensomethingaboutthemthathadmadehimlooktwice—maybeitwasbecausethegamewasbeingplayedinblazingsunshinewithwhatherecognisedasintenselyfocusedenergy.
therehadbeennogoodreasontosuspectthemofbeingthebankrobbers,butneverthelesshehadgooahilloverlookingtheircabin.itseemedempty.itwasaboutfortyminutesbeforeavolvodroveupandparkedintheyard.theyoungmengotout,inahurry,andwereeachcarryingasportsbag,sotheymighthavebeendoingnothingmorethaningbackfromaswim.butoneofthemreturnedtothecarandtookoutfromthebootsomethingwhichhehurriedlycoveredwithhisjacket.evenfromblomkvist’srelativelydistantobservationposthecouldtellthatitwasagoodoldak4,theriflethathadbeenhisconstantpanionfortheyearofhismilitaryservice.
hecalledthepoliceandthatwasthestartofathree-daysiegeofthecabin,blanketcoveragebythemedia,withblomkvistinafront-rowseatandcollectingagratifyinglylargefeefromaneveningpaper.thepolicesetuptheirheadquartersinacaravaninthegardenofthecabinwhereblomkvistwasstaying.
thefallofthebearganggavehimthestarbillingthatlaunchedhimasayoungjournalist.thedownsideofhiscelebritywasthattheothereveningnewspapercouldnotresistusingtheheadline“kalleblomkvistsolvesthecase.”thetongue-in-cheekstorywaswrittenbyanolderfemalecolumnistandcontainedreferencestotheyoungdetectiveinastridlindgren’ssforchildren.tomakemattersworse,thepaperhadrunthestorywithagrainyphotographofblomkvistwithhismouthhalfopenevenasheraisedanindexfingertopoint.
itmadenodifferencethatblomkvisthadneverinlifeusedthenamecarl.fromthatmomenton,tohisdismay,hewasnicknamedkalleblomkvistbyhispeers—anepithetemployedwithtauntingprovocation,notunfriendlybutnotreallyfriendlyeither.inspiteofhisrespectforastridlindgren—whosesheloved—hedetestedthenickname.ittookhimseveralyearsandfarweightierjournalisticsuessesbeforethenicknamebegantofade,buthestillcringedifeverthenamewasusedinhishearing.
rightnowheachievedaplacidsmileandsaidtothereporterfromtheeveningpaper:“oheon,thinkofsomethingyourself.youusuallydo.”
histonewasnotunpleasant.theyallkneweachother,moreorless,andblomkvist’smostviciouscriticshadnotethatmorning.oneofthejournaliststherehadatoimeworkedwithhim.andatapartysomeyearsagohehadnearlysueededinpickinguponeofthereporters—thewomanfromsheontv4.
“youtookarealhitintheretoday,”saidtheonefromdagensnyheter,clearlyayoungpart-timer.“howdoesitfeel?”
despitetheseriousnessofthesituation,neitherblomkvistnortheolderjournalistscouldhelpsmiling.heexchangedglanceswithtv4.howdoesitfeel?thehalf-wittedsportsreportershoveshismicrophoneinthefaceofthebreathlessathleteonthefinishingline.
“icanonlyregretthatthecourtdidnotetoadifferentconclusion,”hesaidabitstuffily.
“threemonthsingaoland150,000kronordamages.that’sprettysevere,”saidshefromtv4.
“i’llsurvive.”
“areyougoingtoapologisetowennerstr?m?shakehishand?”
“ithinknot.”
“soyoustillwouldsaythathe’sacrook?”dagensnyheter.
thecourthadjustruledthatblomkvisthadlibelledanddefamedthefinancierhans-erikwennerstr?m.thetrialwasoverandhehadnoplanstoappeal.sowhatwouldhappenifherepeatedhisclaimonthecourthousesteps?blomkvistdecidedthathedidnotwanttofindout.
“ithoughtihadgoodreasontopublishthermationthatwasinmypossession.thecourthasruledotherwise,andimustaeptthatthejudicialprocesshastakenitscourse.thoseofusontheeditorialstaffwillhavetodiscussthejudgementbeforewedecidewhatwe’regoingtodo.ihavenomoretoadd.”
“buthowdidyouetofetthatjournalistsactuallyhavetobackuptheirassertions?”shefromtv4.herexpressionwasneutral,butblomkvistthoughthesawahintofdisappointedrepudiationinhereyes.
thereportersonsite,apartfromtheboyfromdagensnyheter,wereallveteransinthebusiness.forthemtheanswertothatquestionwasbeyondtheconceivable.“ihavenothingtoadd,”herepeated,butwhentheothershadaeptedthistv4stoodhimagainstthedoorstothecourthouseandaskedherquestionsinfrontofthecamera.shewaskinderthanhedeserved,andtherewereenoughclearanswerstosatisfyallthereportersstillstandingbehindher.thestorywouldbeintheheadlinesbutheremindedhimselfthattheywerenotdealingwiththemediaeventoftheyearhere.thereportershadwhattheyneededandheadedbacktotheirrespectivenewsrooms.
heconsideredwalking,butitwasablusterydecemberdayandhewasalreadycoldaftertheinterview.ashewalkeddownthecourtroomsteps,hesawwilliambgettingoutofhiscar.hemusthavebeensittingthereduringtheinterview.theireyesmet,andthenbsmiled.
“itwasworthingdownherejusttoseeyouwiththatpaperinyourhand.”
blomkvistsaidnothing.bandblomkvisthadknowneachotherforfifteenyears.theyhadworkedtogetherascubreportersforthefinancialsectionofamorningpaper.maybeitwasaquestionofchemistry,butthefoundationhadbeenlaidthereforalifelongenmity.inblomkvist’seyes,bhadbeenathird-ratereporterandatroublesomepersonwhoannoyedeveryonearoundhimwithcrassjokesandmadedisparagingremarksaboutthemoreexperienced,olderreporters.heseemedtodisliketheolderfemalereportersinparticular.theyhadtheirfirstquarrel,thenothers,andanontheantagonismturnedpersonal.
overtheyears,theyhadrunintoeachotherregularly,butitwasnotuntilthelateniiesthattheybecameseriousenemies.blomkvisthadpublishedaaboutfinancialjournalismandquotedextensivelyanumberofidioticarticleswrittenbyb.bcameacrossasapompousasswhogotmanyofhisfactsupsidedownandwrotehomagestodot-paniesthatwereonthebrinkofgoingunder.whenthereaftertheymetbychanceinabarins?dertheyhadallbutetoblows.bleftjournalism,andnowheworkedinpr—foraconsiderablyhighersalary—atafirmthat,tomakethingsworse,waspartofindustrialisthans-erikwennerstr?m’ssphereofinfluence.
theylookedateachotherforalongmomentbeforeblomkvistturnedonhisheelandwalkedaway.itwastypicalofbtodrivetothecourthousesimplytositthereandlaughathim.
thenumber40busbrakedtoastopinfrontofb’scarandblomkvisthoppedontomakehisescape.hegotoffatfridhemsplan,undecidedwhattodo.hewasstillholdingthejudgementdocumentinhishand.finallyhewalkedovertokaféanna,nexttothegarageentranceleadingunderneaththepolicestation.
halfaminuteafterhehadorderedacaffelatteandasandwich,thelunchtimenewscameontheradio.thestoryfollowedthatofasuicidebombinginjerusalemandthenewsthatthegovernmenthadappointedamissiontoinvestigatetheallegedformationofanewcartelwithintheconstructionindustry.
journalistmikaelblomkvistofthemagazinemillenniumwassentencedthismorningto90daysingaolforaggravatedlibelofindustrialisthans-erikwennerstr?m.inanarticleearlierthisyearthatdrewattentiontotheso-calledminosaffair,blomkvistclaimedthatwennerstr?mhadusedstatefundsintendedforindustrialinvestmentinpolandforarmsdeals.blomkvistwasalsosentencedtopay150,000sekindamages.inastatement,wennerstr?m’slawyerbertilcamnermarkersaidthathisclientwassatisfiedwiththejudgement.itwasanexceptionallyoutrageouscaseoflibel,hesaid.
thejudgementwastwenty-sixpageslong.itsetoutthereasonsforfindingblomkvistguiltyonfifteencountsofaggravatedlibelofthebusinessmanhans-erikwennerstr?m.soeachcountcosthimtenthousandkronorandsixdaysingaol.andthentherewerethecourtcostsandhisownlawyer’sfee.hecouldnotbringhimselftothinkaboutalltheexpenses,buthecalculatedtoothatitmighthavebeenworse;thecourthadacquittedhimonsevenothercounts.
ashereadthejudgement,hefeltagrowingheavinessanddisfortinhisstomach.thissurprisedhim.asthetrialbeganheknewthatitwouldtakeamiracleforhimtoescapeconviction,andhehadbeereconciledtotheoute.hesatthroughthetwodaysofthetrialsurprisinglycalm,andforelevenmoredayshewaited,withoutfeelinganythinginparticular,forthecourttofinishdeliberatingandtoeupwiththedocumenthenowheldinhishand.itwasonlynowthataphysicaluneasewashedoverhim.
whenhetookabiteofhissandwich,thebreadseemedtoswellupinhismouth.hecouldhardlyswallowitandpushedhisplateaside.
thiswasthefirsttimethatblomkvisthadfacedanycharge.thejudgementwasatrifle,relativelyspeaking.alightweightcrime.notarmedrobbery,murder,orrapeafterall.fromafinancialpointofview,however,itwasserious—millenniumwasnotaflagshipofthemediaworldwithunlimitedresources,themagazinebarelybrokeeven—butthejudgementdidnotspellcatastrophe.theproblemwasthatblomkvistwasoneofmillennium’spartowners,andatthesametime,idioticallyenough,hewasbothawriterandthemagazine’spublisher.thedamagesof150,000kronorhewouldpayhimself,althoughthatwouldjustaboutwipeouthissavings.themagazinewouldtakecareofthecourtcosts.withprudentbudgetingitwouldworkout.
heponderedthewisdomofsellinghisapartment,thoughitwouldbreakhisheart.attheendofthego-goeighties,duringaperiodwhenhehadasteadyjobandaprettygoodsalary,hehadlookedaroundforapermanentplacetolive.heranfromoneapartmentshowingtoanotherbeforehestumbledonanatticflatof700squarefeetrightattheendofbellmansgatan.thepreviousownerwasinthemiddleofmakingitliveablebutsuddenlygotajobatadot-panyabroad,andblomkvistwasabletobuyitinexpensively.
herejectedtheoriginalinteriordesigner’ssketchesandfinishedtheworkhimself.heputmoneyintofixingupthebathroomandthekitchenarea,butinsteadofputtinginaparquetfloorandinteriorwallstomakeitintotheplannedtwo-roomapartment,hesandedthefloor-boards,whitewashedtheroughwalls,andhidtheworstpatchesbehindtwowatercoloursbyemanuelbernstone.theresultwasanopenlivingspace,withthebedroomareabehindashelf,andthediningareaandthelivingroomnexttothesmallkitchenbehindacounter.theapartmenthadtwodormerwindowsandagablewindowwithaviewoftherooftopstowardsgamlastan,stockholm’soldestsection,andthewaterofriddarfj?rden.hehadaglimpseofwaterbytheslussenlocksandaviewofcityhall.todayhewouldneverbeabletoaffordsuchanapartment,andhebadlywantedtoholdontoit.
butthathemightlosetheapartmentwasnothingbesidethefactthatprofessionallyhehadreceivedarealsmackinthenose.itwouldtakealongtimetorepairthedamage—ifindeeditcouldeverberepaired.
itwasamatteroftrust.fortheforeseeablefuture,editorswouldhesitatetopublishastoryunderhisbyline.hestillhadplentyoffriendsinthebusinesswhowouldaeptthathehadfallenvictimtobadluckandunusualcircumstances,buthewasneveragaingoingtobeabletomaketheslightestmistake.
whathurtmostwasthehumiliation.hehadheldallthetrumpsandyethehadlosttoasemi-gangsterinanarmanisuit.adespicablestock-marketspeculator.ayuppiewithacelebritylawyerwhosneeredhiswaythroughthewholetrial.
howingod’snamehadthingsgonesowrong?
thewennerstr?maffairhadstartedoutwithsuchpromiseinthecockpitofathirty-seven-footm?lar-30onmidsummereveayearandahalfearlier.itbeganbychance,allbecauseaformerjournalistcolleague,nowaprflunkyatthecountycouncil,wantedtoimpresshisnewgirlfriend.hehadrashlyhiredascampiforafewdaysofromanticsailinginthestockholmarchipelago.thegirlfriend,justarrivedfromhallstahammartostudyinstockholm,hadagreedtotheoutingafterputtinguptokenresistance,butonlyifhersisterandhersister’sboyfriendcouldetoo.noneofthetriofromhallstahammarhadanysailingexperience,andunfortunatelyblomkvist’soldcolleaguehadmoreenthusiasmthanexperience.threedaysbeforetheysetoffhehadcalledindesperationandpersuadedhimtoeasafifthcrewmember,onewhoknewnavigation.
blomkvisthadnotthoughtmuchoftheproposal,buthecamearoundwhenpromisedafewdaysofrelaxationinthearchipelagowithgoodfoodandpleasantpany.thesepromisescametonaught,andtheexpeditionturnedintomoreofadisasterthanhecouldhaveimagined.theyhadsailedthebeautifulbutnotverydramaticroutefrombulland?upthroughfurusundstraitatbarely9knots,butthenewgirlfriendwasinstantlyseasick.hersisterstartedarguingwithherboyfriend,andnoneofthemshowedtheslightestinterestinlearningtheleastlittlethingaboutsailing.itquicklybecameclearthatblomkvistwasexpectedtotakechargeoftheboatwhiletheothersgavehimwell-intentionedbutbasicallymeaninglessadvice.afterthefirstnightinabayon?ngs?hewasreadytodocktheboatatfurusundandtakethebushome.onlytheirdesperateappealspersuadedhimtostay.
atnoonthenextday,earlyenoughthattherewerestillafewspacesavailable,theytiedupatthevisitors’wharfonthepicturesqueislandofarholma.theyhadthrownsomelunchtogetherandhadjustfinishedwhenblomkvistnoticedayellowfibreglassm-30glidingintothebayusingonlyitsmainsail.theboatmadeagracefultackwhilethehelmsmanlookedforaspotatthewharf.blomkvisttooscannedthespacearoundandsawthatthegapbetweentheirscampiandanh-boatonthestarboardsidewastheonlyslotleft.thenarrowm-30wouldjustfit.hestoodupinthesternandpointed;themaninthem-30raisedahandinthanksandsteeredtowardsthewharf.alonesailorwhowasnotgoingtobotherstartinguptheengine,blomkvistnoticed.heheardtherattleoftheanchorchainandsecondslaterthemaincamedown,whiletheskippermovedlikeascaldedcattoguidetherudderstraightfortheslotandatthesametimereadythelinefromthebow.
blomkvistclimbedupontherailingandheldoutahandforthepainter.thenewarrivalmadeonelastcoursecorrectionandglidedperfectlyuptothesternofthescampi,bynowmovingveryslowly.itwasonlyasthemantossedthepaintertoblomkvistthattheyrecognisedeachotherandsmiledindelight.
“hi,robban.whydon’tyouuseyourenginesoyoudon’tscrapethepaintoffalltheboatsintheharbour?”
“hi,micke.ithoughttherewassomethingfamiliaraboutyou.i’dlovetousetheengineificouldonlygetthepieceofcrapstarted.itdiedtwodaysagooutbyr?dl?ga.”
theyshookhandsacrosstherailings.
aernitybefore,atkungsholmenschoolintheseventies,blomkvistandrobertlindberghadbeenfriends,evenverygoodfriends.assooftenhappenswithschoolbuddies,thefriendshipfadedaftertheyhadgoheirseparateways.theyhadmetmaybehalfadozentimesinthepasttwentyyears,thelastonesevenoreightyearsago.nowtheystudiedeachotherwithinterest.lindberghadtangledhair,wastannedandhadatwo-week-oldbeard.
blomkvistimmediatelyfeltinmuchbetterspirits.whentheprguyandhissillygirlfriendwentofftodancearoundthemidsummerpoleinfrontofthegeneralstoreontheothersideoftheisland,hestayedbehindwithhisherringandaquavitinthecockpitofthem-30,shootingthebreezewithhisoldschoolpal.
sometimethatevening,aftertheyhadgivenupthebattlewitharholma’snotoriousmosquitoesandmoveddowntothecabin,andafterquiteafewshotsofaquavit,theconversationturnedtofriendlybanteraboutethicsinthecorporateworld.lindberghadgonefromschooltothestockholmschoolofeconomicsandintothebankingbusiness.blomkvisthadgraduatedfromthestockholmschoolofjournalismanddevotedmuchofhisprofessionallifetoexposingcorruptioninthebankingandbusinessworld.theirtalkbegantoexplorewhatwasethicallysatisfactoryincertaingoldenparachuteagreementsduringtheniies.lindbergeventuallyconcededtherewereoneortwoimmoralbastardsinthebusinessworld.helookedatblomkvistwithanexpressionthatwassuddenlyserious.
“whydon’tyouwriteabouthans-erikwennerstr?m?”
“ididn’tknowtherewasanythingtowriteabouthim.”
“dig.dig,forgod’ssake.howmuchdoyouknowabouttheaiaprogramme?”
“well,itwasasortofassistanceprogrammeintheniiestohelpindustryintheformereasternbloountriesgetbackontheirfeet.itwasshutdownacoupleofyearsago.it’snothingi’veeverlookedinto.”
“theagencyforindustrialassistancewasaprojectthatwasbackedbythestateandadministeredbyrepresentativesofaboutadozenbigswedishfirms.theaiaobtainedgovernmentguaranteesforanumberofprojectsinitiatedinagreementwiththegovernmentsinpolandandthebaltics.theswedishtradeunionconfederation,lo,alsojoinedinasaguarantorthattheworkers’movementintheeastwouldbestrengthenedaswellbyfollowingtheswedishmodel.intheory,itwasanassistanceprojectthatbuiltontheprincipleofofferinghelpforself-help,anditwassupposedtogivetheregimesintheeasttheopportunitytorestructuretheireconomies.inpractice,however,itmeantthatswedishpanieswouldgetstatesubventionsforgoinginandestablishingthemselvesaspartownersinpaniesineasterneuropeancountries.thatgoddammedministerinthechristianpartywasanardentadvocateoftheaia,whichwasgoingtosetupapapermillinkrakowandprovidenewequipmentforametalsindustryinriga,acementfactoryintallinn,andsoon.thefundswouldbedistributedbytheaiaboard,whichconsistedofanumberofheavyweightsfromthebankingandcorporateworld.”
“soitwastaxmoney?”
“abouthalfcamefromgovernmentcontributions,andthebanksandcorporationsputuptherest.butitwasfarfromanidealoperation.thebanksandindustrywerecountingonmakingasweetprofit.otherwisetheydamnwellwouldn’thavebothered.”
“howmuchmoneyarewetalkingabout?”
“holdon,listentothis.theaiawasdealingprimarilywithbigswedishfirmswhowantedtogetintotheeasterneuropeanmarket.heavyindustrieslikeaseabrownboveriandskanskaconstructionandthelike.notspeculationfirms,inotherwords.”
“areyoutellingmethatskanskadoesn’tdospeculation?wasn’tittheirmanagingdirectorwhowasfiredafterheletsomeofhisboysspeculateawayhalfabillioninquickstockturnovers?andhowabouttheirhystericalpropertydealsinlondonandoslo?”
“sure,thereareidiotsineverypanytheworldover,butyouknowwhatimean.atleastthosepaniesactuallyproducesomething.thebackboneofswedishindustryandallthat.”
“wheredoeswennerstr?meintothepicture?”
“wennerstr?misthejokerinthepack.meaningthathe’saguywhoturnsupoutoftheblue,whohasnobackgroundwhatsoeverinheavyindustry,andwhoreallyhasnobusinessgettinginvolvedintheseprojects.buthehasamassedacolossalfortuneonthestockmarketandhasinvestedinsolidpanies.hecameinbythebackdoor,sotospeak.”
ashesatthereintheboat,blomkvistfilledhisglasswithreimersholmsbrandyandleanedback,tryingtorememberwhatlittleheknewaboutwennerstr?m.bornupinnorrland,whereintheseventieshesetupaninvestmentpany.hemademoneyandmovedtostockholm,andtherehiscareertookoffintheeighties.hecreatedwennerstr?m-gruppen,thewennerstr?mgroup,whentheysetupofficesinlondonandnewyorkandthepanystartedtogetmentionedinthesamearticlesasbeijer.hetradedstockandoptionsandlikedtomakequickdeals,andheemergedinthecelebritypressasoneofsweden’snumerousbillionaireswithacityhomeonstrandv?gen,afabuloussummervillaontheislandofv?rmd?,andaneighty-two-footmotoryachtthatheboughtfromabankruptformertennisstar.hewasabeancounter,naturally,buttheeightieswasthedecadeofthebeancountersandpropertyspeculators,andwennerstr?mhadnotmadeasignificantlybigsplash.onthecontrary,hehadremainedsomethingofamanintheshadowsamonghispeers.helackedjanstenbeck’sflamboyanceanddidnotspreadhimselfalloverthetabloidslikepercybarnevik.hesaidgoodbyetorealestateandinsteadmademassiveinvestmentsintheformereasternbloc.whenthebubbleburstintheniiesandonemanagingdirectorafteranotherwasforcedtocashinhisgoldenparachute,wennerstr?m’spanycameoutofitinremarkablygoodshape.“aswedishsuessstory,”asthefinancialtimescalledit.
“thatwas1992,”lindbergsaid.“wennerstr?mcontactedaiaandsaidhewantedfunding.hepresentedaplan,seeminglybackedbyinterestsinpoland,whichaimedatestablishinganindustryforthemanufactureofpackagingforfoodstuffs.”
“atin-canindustry,youmean.”
“notquite,butsomethingalongthoselines.ihavenoideawhoheknewattheaia,buthewalkedoutwithsixtymillionkronor.”
“thisisstartingtogetinteresting.letmeguess:thatwasthelastanyonesawofthemoney.”
“wrong.”lindberggaveaslysmilebeforehefortifiedhimselfwithafewmoresipsofbrandy.
“whathappenedafterthatisapieceofclassickeeping.wennerstr?mreallydidsetupapackagingfactoryinpoland,inlodz.thepanywascalledminos.aiareceivedafewenthusiasticreportsduring1993,thensilence.in1994,minos,outoftheblue,collapsed.”
lindbergputhisemptyglassdownwithanemphaticsmack.
“theproblemwithaiawasthattherewasnorealsysteminplaceforreportingontheproject.yourememberthosedays:everyonewassooptimisticwhentheberlinwallcamedown.democracywasgoingtobeintroduced,thethreatofnuclearwarwasover,andthebolshevikswouldturnintoregularlittlecapitalistsovernight.thegovernmentwantedtonaildowndemocracyintheeast.everycapitalistwantedtojumponthebandwagonandhelpbuildtheneweurope.”
“ididn’tknowthatcapitalistsweresoanxioustogetinvolvedincharity.”
“believeme,itwasacapitalist’swetdream.russiaandeasterneuropemaybetheworld’sbiggestuntappedmarketsafterchina.industryhadnoproblemjoininghandswiththegovernment,especiallywhenthepanieswererequiredtoputuponlyatokeninvestment.inall,aiaswallowedaboutthirtybillionkronorofthetaxpayers’money.itwassupposedtoebackinfutureprofits.formally,aiawasthegovernment’sinitiative,buttheinfluenceofindustrywassogreatthatinactualfacttheaiaboardwasoperatingindependently.”
“soisthereastoryinallthis?”
“bepatient.whentheprojectstartedtherewasnoproblemwithfinancing.swedenhadn’tyetbeenhitbytheinterest-rateshock.thegovernmentwashappytoplugaiaasoneofthebiggestswedisheffortstopromotedemocracyintheeast.”
“andthiswasallundertheconservativegovernment?”
“don’tgetpoliticsmixedupinthis.it’sallaboutmoneyanditmakesnodifferenceifthesocialdemocratsorthemoderatesappointtheministers.so,fullspeedahead.thencametheforeign-exchangeproblems,andafterthatsomecrazynewdemocrats—rememberthem?—startedwhiningthattherewasashortageofoversightinwhataiawasinto.oneoftheirhenchmenhadconfusedaiawiththeswedishinternationaldevelopmentauthorityandthoughtitwasallsomedamndo-gooderprojectliketheoneintanzania.inthespringof1994amissionwasappointedtoinvestigate.atthattimetherewereconcernsaboutseveralprojects,butoneofthefirsttobeinvestigatedwasminos.”
“andwennerstr?mcouldn’tshowwhatthefundshadbeenusedfor.”
“farfromit.heproducedanexcellentreportwhichshowedthataroundfifty-fourmillionkronorwasinvestedinminos.butitturnedoutthatthereweretoomanyhugeadministrativeproblemsinwhatwasleftofpolandforamodernpackagingindustrytobeabletofunction.inpracticetheirfactorywasshutoutbythepetitionfromasimilargermanproject.thegermansweredoingtheirbesttobuyuptheentireeasternbloc.”
“yousaidthathehadbeengivensixtymillionkronor.”
“exactly.themoneyservedasaninterest-freeloan.theidea,ofcourse,wasthatthepanieswouldpaybackpartofthemoneyoveranumberofyears.butminoshadgoneunderandwennerstr?mcouldnotbeblamedforit.herethestateguaranteeskickedin,andwennerstr?mwasindemnified.allheneededtodowaspaybackthemoneythatwaslostwhenminoswentunder,andhecouldalsoshowthathehadlostacorrespondingamountofhisownmoney.”
“letmeseeifiunderstandthiscorrectly.thegovernmentsuppliedbillionsintaxmoney,anddiplomatstoopendoors.industriesgotthemoneyandusedittoinvestinjointventuresfromwhichtheylaterreapedvastprofits.inotherwords,businessasusual.”
“you’reacynic.theloansweresupposedtobepaidbacktothestate.”
“yousaidthattheywereinterest-free.sothatmeansthetaxpayersgotnothingatallforputtingupthecash.wennerstr?mgotsixtymillion,andinvestedfifty-fourmillionofit.whathappenedtotheothersixmillion?”
“whenitbecameclearthattheaiaprojectwasgoingtobeinvestigated,wennerstr?msentachequeforsixmilliontoaiaforthedifference.sothematterwassettled,legallyatleast.”
“itsoundsasthoughwennerstr?mfritteredawayalittlemoneyforaia.butparedwiththehalfbillionthatdisappearedfromskanskaortheceoofabb’sgoldenparachuteofmorethanabillionkronor—whichreallyupsetpeople—thisdoesn’tseemtobemuchtowriteabout,”blomkvistsaid.“today’sreadersareprettytiredofstoriesaboutinpetentspeculators,evenifit’swithpublicfunds.istheremoretothestory?”
“itgetsbetter.”
“howdoyouknowallthisaboutwennerstr?m’sdealsinpoland?”
“iworkedathandelsbankenintheniies.guesswhowrotethereportsforthebank’srepresentativeinaia?”
“aha.tellmemore.”
“well,aiagottheirreportfromwennerstr?m.documentsweredrawnup.thebalanceofthemoneyhadbeenpaidback.thatsixmillioningbackwasveryclever.”
“gettothepoint.”
“but,mydearblomkvist,thatisthepoint.aiawassatisfiedwithwennerstr?m’sreport.itwasaninvestmentthatwenttohell,buttherewasnocriticismofthewayithadbeenmanaged.welookedatinvoicesandtransfersandallthedocuments.everythingwasmeticulouslyaountedfor.ibelievedit.mybossbelievedit.aiabelievedit,andthegovernmenthadnothingtosay.”
“where’sthehook?”
“thisiswherethestorygetsticklish,”lindbergsaid,lookingsurprisinglysober.“andsinceyou’reajournalist,thisisofftherecord.”
“eoffit.youcan’tsittheretellingmeallthisstuffandthensayican’tuseit.”
“icertainlycan.whati’vetoldyousofarisinthepublicrecord.youcanlookupthereportifyouwant.therestofthestory—whatihaven’ttoldyou—youcanwriteabout,butyou’llhavetotreatmeasananonymoussource.”
“ok,but‘offtherecord’incurrentterminologymeansthati’vebeentoldsomethinginconfidenceandcan’twriteaboutit.”
“screwtheterminology.writewhateverthehellyouwant,buti’myouranonymoussource.areweagreed?”
“ofcourse,”blomkvistsaid.
inhindsight,thiswasamistake.
“allrightthen.theminosstorytookplacemorethanadecadeago,justafterthewallcamedownandthebolsheviksstartingactinglikedecentcapitalists.iwasoneofthepeoplewhoinvestigatedwennerstr?m,andthewholetimeithoughttherewassomethingdamnedoddabouthisstory.”
“whydidn’tyousaysowhenyousignedoffonhisreport?”
“idiscusseditwithmyboss.buttheproblemwasthattherewasn’tanythingtopinpoint.thedocumentswereallok,ihadonlytosignthereport.everytimei’veseenwennerstr?m’snameinthepresssincethenithinkaboutminos,andnotleastbecausesomeyearslater,inthemid-niies,mybankwasdoingsomebusinesswithwennerstr?m.prettybigbusiness,actually,anditdidn’tturnoutsowell.”
“hecheatedyou?”
“no,nothingthatobvious.webothmademoneyonthedeals.itwasmorethat…idon’tknowquitehowtoexplainit,andnowi’mtalkingaboutmyownemployer,andidon’twanttodothat.butwhatstruckme—thelastingandoverallimpression,astheysay—wasnotpositive.wennerstr?mispresentedinthemediaasatremendousfinancialoracle.hethrivesonthat.it’shis‘trustcapital.’”
“iknowwhatyoumean.”
“myimpressionwasthatthemanwasallbluff.hewasn’tevenparticularlybrightasafinancier.infact,ithoughthewasdamnedignorantaboutcertainsubjectsalthoughhehadsomereallysharpyoungwarriorsforadvisers.aboveall,ireallydidn’tcareforhimpersonally.”
“so?”
“afewyearsagoiwentdowntopolandonsomeothermatter.ourgrouphaddinnerwithsomeinvestorsinlodz,andifoundmyselfatthesametableasthemayor.wetalkedaboutthedifficultyofgettingpoland’seconomyonitsfeetandallthat,andsomehoworotherimentionedtheminosproject.themayorlookedquiteastonishedforamoment—asifhehadneverheardofminos.hetoldmeitwassomecrummylittlebusinessandnothingevercameofit.helaughedandsaid—i’mquotingwordforword—thatifthatwasthebestourinvestorscouldmanage,thenswedenwasn’tlongforthislife.areyoufollowingme?”
“thatmayoroflodzisobviouslyasharpfellow,butgoon.”
“thenextdayihadameetinginthemorning,buttherestofmydaywasfree.forthehellofitidroveouttolookattheshut-downminosfactoryinasmalltownoutsideoflodz.thegiantminosfactorywasaram-shacklestructure.acorrugatedironstoragebuildingthattheredarmyhadbuiltinthefifties.ifoundawatchmanonthepropertywhocouldspeakalittlegermananddiscoveredthatoneofhiscousinshadworkedatminosandwewentovertohishousenearby.thewatchmaninterpreted.areyouinterestedinhearingwhathehadtosay?”
“icanhardlywait.”
“minosopenedintheautumnof1992.therewereatmostfifteenemployees,themajorityofthemoldwomen.theirpaywasaroundonehundredfiftykronoramonth.atfirsttherewerenomachines,sotheworkforcespenttheirtimecleaninguptheplace.inearlyoctoberthreecardboardboxmachinesarrivedfromportugal.theywereoldandpletelyobsolete.thescrapvaluecouldn’thavebeenmorethanafewthousandkronor.themachinesdidwork,buttheykeptbreakingdown.naturallytherewerenospareparts,sominossufferedendlessstoppages.”
“thisisstartingtosoundlikeastory,”blomkvistsaid.“whatdidtheymakeatminos?”
“throughout1992andhalfof1993theyproducedsimplecardboardboxesforwashingpowdersandeggcartonsandthelike.thentheystartedmakingpaperbags.butthefactorycouldnevergetenoughrawmaterials,sotherewasneveraquestionofmuchvolumeofproduction.”
“thisdoesn’tsoundlikeagiganticinvestment.”
“iranthenumbers.thetotalrentmusthavebeenaround15,000kronorfortwoyears.wagesmayhaveamountedto150,000sekatmost—andi’mbeinggeneroushere.costofmachinesandcostoffreight…avantodelivertheeggcartons…i’mguessing250,000.addfeesforpermits,alittletravellingbackandforth—apparentlyonepersonfromswedendidvisitthesiteafewtimes.itlooksasthoughthewholeoperationranforundertwomillion.onedayinthesummerof1993theforemancamedowntothefactoryandsaiditwasshutdown,andawhilelaterahungarianlorryappearedandcarriedoffthemachinery.bye-bye,minos.”
inthecourseofthetrialblomkvisthadoftenthoughtofthatmidsummereve.forlargepartsoftheeveningthetoneoftheconversationmadeitfeelasiftheywerebackatschool,havingafriendlyargument.asteenagerstheyhadsharedtheburdensmontothatstageinlife.asgrown-upstheywereeffectivelystrangers,bynowquitedifferentsortsofpeople.duringtheirtalkblomkvisthadthoughtthathereallycouldnotrecallwhatitwasthathadmadethemsuchfriendsatschool.herememberedlindbergasareservedboy,incrediblyshywithgirls.asanadulthewasasuessful…well,climberinthebankingworld.
herarelygotdrunk,butthatchancemeetinghadtransformedadisastroussailingtripintoapleasantevening.andbecausetheconversationhadsomuchanechoofaschoolboytone,hedidnotatfirsttakelindberg’sstoryaboutwennerstr?mseriously.graduallyhisprofessionalinstinctswerearoused.eventuallyhewaslisteningattentively,andthelogicalobjectionssurfaced.
“waitasecond,”hesaid.“wennerstr?misatopnameamongmarketspeculators.he’smadehimselfabillion,hashenot?”
“thewennerstr?mgroupissittingonsomewhereclosetotwohundredbillion.you’regoingtoaskwhyabillionaireshouldgotothetroubleofswindlingatriflingfiftymillion.”
“well,putitthisway:whywouldheriskhisownandhispany’sgoodnameonsuchablatantswindle?”
“itwasn’tsoobviouslyaswindlegiventhattheaiaboard,thebankers,thegovernment,andparliament’sauditorsallapprovedwennerstr?m’saountingwithoutasingledissentingvote.”
“it’sstillaridiculouslysmallsumforsovastarisk.”
“certainly.butjustthink:thewennerstr?mgroupisaninvestmentpanythatdealswithproperty,securities,options,foreignexchange…younameit.wennerstr?mcontactedaiain1992justasthebottomwasabouttodropoutofthemarket.doyouremembertheautumnof1992?”
“doi?ihadavariable-ratemortgageonmyapartmentwhentheinterestrateshotupfivehundredpercentinoctober.iwasstuckwithnieenpercentinterestforayear.”
“thosewereindeedthedays,”lindbergsaid.“ilostabundlethatyearmyself.andhans-erikwennerstr?m—likeeveryotherplayerinthemarket—waswrestlingwiththesameproblem.thepanyhadbillionstiedupinpaperofvarioustypes,butnotsomuchcash.allofasuddentheycouldnolongerborrowanyamounttheyliked.theusualthinginsuchasituationistounloadafewpropertiesandlickyourwounds,butin1992nobodywantedtobuyrealestate.”
“cash-flowproblems.”
“exactly.andwennerstr?mwasn’ttheonlyone.everybusinessman…”
“don’tsaybusinessman.callthemwhatyoulike,butcallingthembusinessmenisaninsulttoaseriousprofession.”
“allright,everyspeculatorhadcash-flowproblems.lookatitthisway:wennerstr?mgotsixtymillionkronor.hepaidbacksixmil,butonlyafterthreeyears.therealcostofminosdidn’tetomorethantwomillion.theinterestaloneonsixtymillionforthreeyears,that’squiteabit.dependingonhowheinvestedthemoney,hemighthavedoubledtheaiamoney,ormaybegrownittentimesover.thenwe’renolongertalkingaboutcat**.sk?l,bytheway.”
chapter2
friday,december20
draganarmanskywasbornincroatiafifty-sixyearsago.hisfatherwasanarmenianjewfrombelorussia.hismotherwasabosnianmuslimofgreekextraction.shehadtakenchargeofhisupbringingandhiseducation,whichmeantthatasanadulthewaslumpedtogetherwiththatlarge,heterogeneousgroupdefinedbythemediaasmuslims.theswedishimmigrationauthoritieshadregisteredhim,strangelyenough,asaserb.hispassportconfirmedthathewasaswedishcitizen,andhispassportphotographshowedasquarishface,astrongjaw,five-o’clockshadow,andgreyingtemples.hewasoftenreferredtoas“thearab,”althoughhedidnothaveadropofarabblood.
helookedalittlelikethestereotypicallocalbossinanamericangangstermovie,butinfacthewasatalentedfinancialdirectorwhohadbegunhiscareerasajunioraountantatmiltonsecurityintheearlyseventies.threedecadeslaterhehadadvancedtoceoandcooofthepany.
hehadbeefascinatedwiththesecuritybusiness.itwaslikewargames—toidentifythreats,developcounter-strategies,andallthetimestayonestepaheadoftheindustrialspies,blackmailersandthieves.itbeganforhimwhenhediscoveredhowtheswindlingofaclienthadbeenacplishedthroughcreativekeeping.hewasabletoprovewho,fromagroupofadozenpeople,wasbehindit.hehadbeenpromotedandplayedakeyroleinthefirm’sdevelopmentandwasanexpertinfinancialfraud.fifteenyearslaterhebecameceo.hehadtransformedmiltonsecurityintooneofsweden’smostpetentandtrustedsecurityfirms.
thepanyhad380full-timeemployeesandanother300freelancers.itwassmallparedtofalckorswedishguardservice.whenarmanskyfirstjoined,thepanywascalledjohanfredrikmilton’sgeneralsecurityab,andithadaclientlistconsistingofshoppingcentresthatneededfloorwalkersandmuscularguards.underhisleadershipthefirmwasnowtheinternationallyrecognisedmiltonsecurityandhadinvestedincutting-edgetechnology.nightwatchmenwellpasttheirprime,uniformfetishists,andmoonlightinguniversitystudentshadbeenreplacedbypeoplewithrealprofessionalskills.armanskyhiredmatureex-policemenasoperationschiefs,politicalscientistsspecialisingininternationalterrorism,andexpertsinpersonalprotectionandindustrialespionage.mostimportantly,hehiredthebesttelemunicationstechniciansanditexperts.thepanymovedfromsolnatostate-of-the-artofficesnearslussen,intheheartofstockholm.
bythestartoftheniies,miltonsecuritywasequippedtoofferanewlevelofsecuritytoanexclusivegroupofclients,primarilymedium-sizedcorporationsandwell-to-doprivateindividuals—nouveau-richerockstars,stock-marketspeculators,anddot-highflyers.apartofthepany’sactivitywasprovidingbodyguardprotectionandsecuritysolutionstoswedishfirmsabroad,especiallyinthemiddleeast.thisareaoftheirbusinessnowaountedfor70percentofthepany’sturnover.underarmansky,saleshadincreasedfromaboutfortymillionsekannuallytoalmosttwobillion.providingsecuritywasalucrativebusiness.
operationsweredividedamongthreemainareas:securityconsultations,whichconsistedofidentifyingconceivableorimaginedthreats;counter-measures,whichusuallyinvolvedtheinstallationofsecuritycameras,burglarandfirealarms,electroniclockingmechanismsanditsystems;andpersonalprotectionforprivateindividualsorpanies.thislastmarkethadgrownforty