gave her the assignment at 11.30. You didn't say a word about it at the two o'clock meeting."
"It's in the daily memo."
"Oh, right... here's what it says in the daily memo: quote, Margareta Orring, interview with Prosecutor Martina Fransson, re: narcotics bust in Sodertalje, unquote."
"The basic story was an interview with Martina Fransson about the confiscation of anabolic steroids. A would-be Svavelsjo biker was busted for that," Holm said.
"Exactly. And not a word in the daily memo about Svavelsjo M.C., or that the interview would be focused on Magge Lundin and Stallarholmen, and therefore the investigation of Salander."
"I assume it came up during the interview - "
"Anders, I don't know why, but you're standing here lying to my face. I spoke to Margareta and she said that she clearly explained to you what her interview was going to focus on."
"I must not have realized that it would centre on Salander. Then I got an article late in the evening. What was I supposed to do, kill the whole story? Orring turned in a good piece."
"There I agree with you. It's an excellent story. But that's now your third lie in about the same number of minutes. Orring turned it in at 3.20 in the afternoon, long before I went home at 6.00."
"Berger, I don't like your tone of voice."
"Great. Then I can tell you that I like neither your tone nor your evasions nor your lies."
"It sounds as if you think I'm organizing some sort of conspiracy against you."
"You still haven't answered the question. And item two: today this piece by Johannes shows up on my desk. I can't recall having any discussion about it at the two o'clock meeting. Why has one of our reporters spent the day working on Salander without anybody telling me?"
Frisk squirmed. He was bright enough to keep his mouth shut.
"So...," Holm said. "We're putting out a newspaper, and there must be hundreds of articles you don't know about. We have routines here at S.M.P. and we all have to adapt to them. I don't have time to give special treatment to specific articles."
"I didn't ask you to give special treatment to specific articles. I asked you for two things: first, that I be informed of everything that has a bearing on the Salander case. Second, I want to approve everything we publish on that topic. So, one more time... what part of my instructions did you not understand?"
Holm sighed and adopted an exasperated expression.
"O.K.," Berger said. "I'll make myself crystal clear. I am not going to argue with you about this. Just let's see if you understand this message. If it happens again I'm going to relieve you of your job as news editor. You'll hear bang-boom, and then you'll find yourself editing the family page or the comics page or something like that. I cannot have a news editor that I can't trust or work with and who devotes his precious time to undermining my decisions. Understood?"
Holm threw up his hands in a gesture that indicated he considered Berger's accusations to be absurd.
"Do you understand me? Yes or no?"
"I heard what you said."
"I asked if you understood. Yes or no?"
"Do you really think you can get away with this? This paper comes out because I and the other cogs in the machinery work our backsides off. The board is going to - "
"The board is going to do as I say. I'm here to revamp this paper. I have a carefully worded agreement that gives me the right to make far-reaching editorial changes at section editors' level. I can get rid of the dead meat and recruit new blood from outside if I choose. And Holm... you're starting to look like dead meat to me."
She fell silent. Holm met her gaze. He was furious.
"That's all," Berger said. "I suggest you consider very carefully what we've talked about today."
"I don't think - "
"It's up to you. That's all. Now go."
He turned on his heel and left the glass cage. She watched him disappear into the editorial sea in the direction of the canteen. Frisk stood up and made to follow.
"Not you, Johannes. You stay here and sit down."
She picked up his article and read it one more time.
"You're here on a temporary basis, I gather."
"Yes. I've been here five months - this is my last week."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-seven."
"I apologize for putting you in the middle of a duel between me and Holm. Tell me about this story."