and finally found a room at a small hotel, the Victor Hugo on rue Copernic.
She took a shower and called Miriam Wu. They met that evening at a bar near Notre Dame. Mimmi was dressed in a white shirt and jacket. She looked fabulous. Salander instantly felt shy. They kissed each other on the cheek.
"I'm sorry I haven't called, and that I didn't come to the trial," Mimmi said.
"That's O.K. The trial was behind closed doors anyway."
"I was in hospital for three weeks, and then it was chaos when I got home to Lundagatan. I couldn't sleep. I had nightmares about that bastard Niedermann. I called my mother and told her I wanted to come here, to Paris."
Salander said she understood.
"Forgive me," Mimmi said.
"Don't be such an idiot. I'm the one who's come here to ask you to forgive me."
"For what?"
"I wasn't thinking. It never occurred to me that I was putting you in such danger by turning over my old apartment to you. It was my fault that you were almost murdered. You'd have every right to hate me."
Mimmi looked shocked. "Lisbeth, I never even gave it a thought. It was Ronald Niedermann who tried to murder me, not you."
They sat in silence for a while.
"Alright," Salander said finally.
"Right," Mimmi said.
"I didn't follow you here because I'm in love with you," Salander said.
Mimmi nodded.
"We had great sex, but I'm not in love with you."
"Lisbeth, I think..."
"What I wanted to say was that I hope you... damn."
"What?"
"I don't have many friends..."
Mimmi nodded. "I'm going to be in Paris for a while. My studies at home were a mess so I signed up at the university here instead. I'll probably stay at least one academic year. After that I don't know. But I'm going to come back to Stockholm. I'm still paying the service charges on Lundagatan and I mean to keep the apartment. If that's O.K. with you."
"It's your apartment. Do what you want with it."
"Lisbeth, you're a very special person," Mimmi said. "I'd still like to be your friend."
They talked for two hours. Salander did not have any reason to hide her past from Miriam Wu. The Zalachenko business was familiar to everyone who had access to a Swedish newspaper, and Mimmi had followed the story with great interest. She gave Salander a detailed account of what had happened in Nykvarn the night Paolo Roberto saved her life.
Then they went back to Mimmi's student lodgings near the university.
EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE. INVENTORY OF ESTATE
FRIDAY, 2.XII - SUNDAY, 18.XII
Giannini met Salander in the bar of the Sodra theatre at 9.00. Salander was drinking beer and was already coming to the end of her second glass.
"Sorry I'm late," Giannini said, glancing at her watch. "I had to deal with another client."
"That's O.K.," said Lisbeth.
"What are you celebrating?"
"Nothing. I just feel like getting drunk."
Giannini looked at her sceptically and took a seat.
"Do you often feel that way?"
"I drank myself stupid after I was released, but I have no tendency to alcoholism. It just occurred to me that for the first time in my life I have a legal right to get drunk here in Sweden."
Giannini ordered a Campari.
"O.K. Do you want to drink alone," she said, "or would you like some company?"
"Preferably alone. But if you don't talk too much you can sit with me. I take it you don't feel like coming home with me and having sex."
"I beg your pardon?" Giannini said.
"No, I didn't think so. You're one of those insanely heterosexual people."
Giannini suddenly looked amused.
"That's the first time in my life that one of my clients has proposed sex."
"Are you interested?"
"No, not in the least, sorry. But thanks for the offer."
"So what was it you wanted, counsellor?"
"Two things. Either I quit as your lawyer here and now or you start answering your telephone when I call. We've already had this discussion, when you were released."
Salander looked at Giannini.
"I've been trying to get hold of you for a week. I've called, I've sent letters, I've emailed."
"I've been away."
"In fact you've been impossible to get hold of for most of the autumn. This just isn't working. I said I would represent you in all negotiations with the government. There are formalities that have to be taken care of. Papers to be signed. Questions to be answered. I have to be able to reach you, and I have no wish to be made to feel like an idiot because I don't know where the hell you are."