were based on information that only Svensson or Johansson possessed. A writer who knew - inevitably - less about the subject would have to verify the information independently.
They estimated that about 80 percent of the existing text could be published without any great problems, but a good deal of legwork was going to have to be done before Millennium could risk publishing the remaining 20 percent. They didn't doubt the accuracy of the contents, but weren't sufficiently familiar with the detailed work behind the book's most explosive findings. If Svensson were still alive they would have been able to publish without question - he and Johansson could have easily dealt with and refuted any objections.
Blomkvist looked out the window. Night had fallen and it was raining. He asked if Eriksson wanted more coffee. She did not.
"We've got the manuscript under control," she said. "But we aren't any closer to pinpointing Dag and Mia's killer."
"It could be one of the names on the wall," Blomkvist said.
"It could be somebody who doesn't have anything whatsoever to do with the book. Or it could be your girlfriend."
"Lisbeth," Blomkvist said.
Eriksson stole a glance at him. She had worked at Millennium for eighteen months. She joined right in the middle of the chaos of the Wennerstrom affair. After years of temp jobs, Millennium was her first full-time position. She was doing splendidly. Working at Millennium was status. She had a close bond with Berger and the rest of the staff, but she had always felt a little uncomfortable in Blomkvist's company. There was no clear reason for it, but of all the people at Millennium, Blomkvist was the one she found the most reserved and unapproachable.
During the past year he had been coming in late and sitting in his office by himself a lot, or in Berger's office. He had often been away, and during her first few months at the magazine she seemed to see him more frequently on some sofa in a TV studio than in real life. He did not encourage small talk, and from the comments she heard from other staff members, he appeared to have changed. He was quieter and harder to talk to.
"If I'm going to work on trying to figure out why Dag and Mia were shot, I'll have to know more about Salander. I don't really know where to start, if... "
She left the sentence hanging. Blomkvist looked at her. Finally he sat down in the armchair at ninety degrees to her and put his feet up next to hers.
"Do you like working at Millennium?" he said, disconcertingly. "I mean, you've been working for us for a year and a half now, but I've been running around so much that we've never had a chance to get to know each other."
"I like working there a lot," she said. "Are you happy with me?"
"Erika and I have said over and over that we've never had such a valuable managing editor. We think you're a real find. And forgive me for not telling you as much before now."
Eriksson smiled contentedly. Praise from the great Blomkvist was extremely gratifying.
"But that's not what I was actually asking about," she said.
"You're wondering about Lisbeth Salander's links with Millennium."
"You've never said anything, and Erika is pretty tight-lipped about her."
Blomkvist met her gaze. He and Berger might have complete confidence in her, but there were things he just could not discuss.
"I agree with you," he said. "If we're going to dig into the murders, you're going to need more information. I'm a firsthand source, and also the link between Lisbeth and Dag and Mia. Go ahead and ask me questions, and I'll answer them as best I can. And when I can't answer, I'll say so."
"Why all the secrecy? Who is Lisbeth Salander, and what does she have to do with Millennium in the first place?"
"This is how it is. Two years ago I hired her as a researcher for an extremely complicated job. That's the problem. I can't tell you what she worked on for me. Erika knows what it was, and she's bound by confidentiality."
"Two years ago... that was before you cracked Wennerstrom. Should I assume that she was doing research connected with that case?"
"No, you shouldn't assume that. I'm neither going to confirm or deny it. But I can tell you that I hired Lisbeth for an altogether different project and that she did an outstanding job."
"OK, that's when you were living like a hermit in Hedestad, as far as