with perjury and possibly other counts in addition," Judge Iversen said.
"If you'll excuse me, your honour," Blomkvist said.
"Yes?"
"Herr Teleborian has bigger problems than this. Outside the courtroom are two police officers who would like to bring him for questioning."
"I see," the judge said. "Is it a matter which concerns this court?"
"I believe it is, your honour."
Judge Iversen gestured to the bailiff, who admitted Inspector Modig and a woman Prosecutor Ekstrom did not immediately recognize. Her name was Lisa Collsjo, criminal inspector for the Special Investigations Division, the unit within the National Police Board responsible for investigating cases of child pornography and sexual assault on children.
"And what is your business here?" Judge Iversen said.
"We are here to arrest Peter Teleborian with your permission, and without wishing to disturb the court's proceedings."
Judge Iversen looked at Advokat Giannini.
"I'm not quite finished with him... but the court may have heard enough of Herr Teleborian."
"You have my permission," Judge Iversen said to the police officers.
Collsjo walked across to the witness box. "Peter Teleborian, you are under arrest for violation of the law on child pornography."
Teleborian sat still, hardly breathing. Giannini saw that all light seemed to have been extinguished in his eyes.
"Specifically, for possession of approximately eight thousand pornographic photographs of children found on your computer."
She bent down to pick up his laptop case, which he had brought with him.
"This is confiscated as evidence," she said.
As he was being led from the courtroom, Salander's blazing eyes bored into Teleborian's back.
CHAPTER 28
FRIDAY, 15.VII - SATURDAY, 16.VII
Judge Iversen tapped his pen on the edge of his table to quell the murmuring that had arisen in the wake of Teleborian's departure. He seemed unsure how to proceed. Then he turned to Prosecutor Ekstrom.
"Do you have any comment to make to the court on what has been seen and heard in the past hour?"
Ekstrom stood up and looked at Judge Iversen and then at Edklinth before he turned his head and met Salander's unwavering gaze. He understood that the battle was lost. He glanced over at Blomkvist and realized with sudden terror that he too risked being exposed to Millennium's investigators... Which could ruin his career.
He was at a loss to comprehend how this had happened. He had come to the trial convinced that he knew everything about the case.
He had understood the delicate balance sought by national security after his many candid talks with Superintendent Nystrom. It had been explained to him that the Salander report from 1991 had been fabricated. He had received the inside information he needed. He had asked questions - hundreds of questions - and received answers to all of them. A deception in the national interest. And now Nystrom had been arrested, according to Edklinth. He had believed in Teleborian, who had, after all, seemed so... so competent. So convincing.
Good Lord. What sort of a mess have I landed in?
And then, How the hell am I going to get out of it?
He stroked his goatee. He cleared his throat. Slowly he removed his glasses.
"I regret to say that it seems I have been misinformed on a number of essential points in this investigation."
He wondered if he could shift the blame on to the police investigators. Then he had a vision of Inspector Bublanski. Bublanski would never back him up. If Ekstrom made one wrong move, Bublanski would call a press conference and sink him.
Ekstrom met Salander's gaze. She was sitting there patiently, and in her eyes he read both curiosity and vengeance.
No compromises.
He could still get her convicted of grievous bodily harm in Stallarholmen. And he could probably get her convicted for the attempted murder of her father in Gosseberga. That would mean changing his strategy immediately; he would drop everything that had anything to do with Teleborian. All claims that she was a psychopath had to go, but that meant that her story would be strengthened all the way back to 1991. The whole declaration of incompetence was bogus, and with that...
Plus she had that blasted film...
Then it struck him.
Good God. She's a victim, pure and simple.
"Judge Iverson... I believe I can no longer rely on the documents I have here in my hand."
"I suppose not," Judge Iversen said.
"I'm going to have to ask for a recess, or that the trial be suspended until I am able to make certain adjustments to my case."
"Advokat Giannini?" the judge said.
"I request that my client be at once acquitted on all counts and be released immediately. I also