that you really do want me to be your lawyer. But there's something else I need to tell you."
"Yes?"
"It's this: if I'm not present, you're not to say a single word to the police, no matter what they ask you. Even if they provoke you or accuse you of whatever... Can you promise me?"
"I could manage that."
Gullberg had been completely exhausted after all his efforts on Monday. He did not wake until 9.00 on Tuesday morning, four hours later than usual. He went to the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth. He stood for a long time looking at his face in the mirror before he turned off the light and went to get dressed. He chose the only clean shirt he had left in the brown briefcase and put on a brown-patterned tie.
He went down to the hotel's breakfast room, drank a cup of black coffee and ate a slice of wholemeal toast with cheese and a little marmalade on it. He drank a glass of mineral water.
Then he went to the hotel lobby and called Clinton's mobile from the public telephone.
"It's me. Status report?"
"Rather unsettled."
"Fredrik, can you handle this?"
"Yes, it's like the old days. But it's a shame von Rottinger isn't still with us. He was better at planning operations than I."
"You were equally good. You could have switched places at any time. Which indeed you quite often did."
"It's a matter of intuition. He was always a little sharper."
"Tell me, how are you all doing?"
"Sandberg is brighter than we thought. We brought in the external help in the form of Mårtensson. He's a gofer, but he's usable. We have taps on Blomkvist's landline and mobile. We'll take care of Giannini's and the Millennium office telephones today. We're looking at the blueprints for all the relevant offices and apartments. We'll be going in as soon as it can be done."
"First thing is to locate all the copies..."
"I've already done that. We've had some unbelievable luck. Giannini called Blomkvist this morning. She actually asked him how many copies there were in circulation, and it turned out that Blomkvist only has one. Berger copied the report, but she sent the copy on to Bublanski."
"Good. No time to waste."
"I know. But it has to be done in one fell swoop. If we don't lift all the copies simultaneously, it won't work."
"True."
"It's a bit complicated, since Giannini left for Goteborg this morning. I've sent a team of externals to tail her. They're flying down right now."
"Good." Gullberg could not think of anything more to say. "Thanks, Fredrik," he said at last.
"My pleasure. This is a lot more fun than sitting around waiting for a kidney."
They said goodbye. Gullberg paid his hotel bill and went out to the street. The ball was in motion. Now it was just a matter of mapping out the moves.
He started by walking to Park Avenue Hotel, where he asked to use the fax machine. He did not want to do it at the hotel where he had been staying. He faxed copies of the letters he had written the day before. Then he went out on to Avenyn to look for a taxi. He stopped at a rubbish bin and tore up the photocopies of his letters.
Giannini was with Prosecutor Jervas for fifteen minutes. She wanted to know what charges she was intending to bring against Salander, but she soon realized that Jervas was not yet sure of her plan.
"Right now I'll settle for charges of grievous bodily harm or attempted murder. I refer to the fact that Salander hit her father with an axe. I take it that you will plead self-defence?"
"Maybe."
"To be honest with you, Niedermann is my priority at the moment."
"I understand."
"I've been in touch with the Prosecutor General. Discussions are ongoing as to whether to combine all the charges against your client under the jurisdiction of a prosecutor in Stockholm and tie them in with what happened here."
"I assumed that the case would be handled in Stockholm," Giannini said.
"Fine. But I need an opportunity to question the girl. When can we do that?"
"I have a report from her doctor, Anders Jonasson. He says that Salander won't be in a condition to participate in an interview for several days yet. Quite apart from her injuries, she's on powerful painkillers."
"I received a similar report, and as you no doubt realize, this is frustrating. I repeat that my priority is Niedermann. Your client says that she doesn't know where he's hiding."
"She doesn't know Niedermann at all.