of the report. A whole lot of stuff, in other words."
Wadensjoo sounded doubtful. "Evert, you're asking us to run an operation against an influential magazine and the editor-in-chief of S.M.P. That's just about the riskiest thing we could do."
"Understand this: you have no choice. Either you roll up your sleeves or it's time for somebody else to take over here."
The challenge hung like a cloud over the table.
"I think I can handle Millennium," Sandberg said at last. "But none of this solves the basic problem. What do we do with Zalachenko? If he talks, anything else we pull off is useless."
"I know. That's my part of the operation," Gullberg said. "I think I have an argument that will persuade Zalachenko to keep his mouth shut. But it's going to take some preparation. I'm leaving for Goteborg later this afternoon."
He paused and looked around the room. Then he fixed his eyes on Wadensjoo.
"Clinton will make the operational decisions while I'm gone," he said.
Not until Monday evening did Dr Endrin decide, in consultation with her colleague Dr Jonasson, that Salander's condition was stable enough for her to have visitors. First, two police inspectors were given fifteen minutes to ask her questions. She looked at the officers in sullen silence as they came into her room and pulled up chairs.
"Hello. My name is Marcus Erlander, Criminal Inspector. I work in the Violent Crimes Division here in Goteborg. This is my colleague Inspector Modig from the Stockholm police."
Salander said nothing. Her expression did not change. She recognized Modig as one of the officers in Bublanski's team. Erlander gave her a cool smile.
"I've been told that you don't generally communicate much with the authorities. Let me put it on record that you do not have to say anything at all. But I would be grateful if you would listen to what we have to say. We have a number of things to discuss with you, but we don't have time to go into them all today. There'll be opportunities later."
Salander still said nothing.
"First of all, I'd like to let you know that your friend Mikael Blomkvist has told us that a lawyer by the name of Annika Giannini is willing to represent you, and that she knows about the case. He says that he already mentioned her name to you in connection with something else. I need you to confirm that this would be your intention. I'd also like to know if you want Giannini to come here to Goteborg, the better to represent you."
Annika Giannini. Blomkvist's sister. He had mentioned her in an email. Salander had not thought about the fact that she would need a lawyer.
"I'm sorry, but I have to insist that you answer the question. A yes or no will be fine. If you say yes, the prosecutor here in Goteborg will contact Advokat Giannini. If you say no, the court will appoint a defence lawyer on your behalf. Which do you prefer?"
Salander considered the choice. She assumed that she really would need a lawyer, but having Kalle Bastard Blomkvist's sister working for her was hard to stomach. On the other hand, some unknown lawyer appointed by the court would probably be worse. She rasped out a single word:
"Giannini."
"Good. Thank you. Now I have a question for you. You don't have to say anything before your lawyer gets here, but this question does not, as far as I can see, affect you or your welfare. The police are looking for a German citizen by the name of Ronald Niedermann, wanted for the murder of a policeman."
Salander frowned. She had no clue as to what had happened after she had swung the axe at Zalachenko's head.
"As far as the Goteborg police are concerned, they are anxious to arrest him as soon as possible. My colleague here would like to question him also in connection with the three recent murders in Stockholm. You should know that you are no longer a suspect in those cases. So we are asking for your help. Do you have any idea... can you give us any help at all in finding this man?"
Salander flicked her eyes suspiciously from Erlander to Modig and back.
They don't know that he's my brother.
Then she considered whether she wanted Niedermann caught or not. Most of all she wanted to take him to a hole in the ground in Gosseberga and bury him. Finally she shrugged. Which she should not have done, because pain flew through her left shoulder.