a whole bought Faste's propaganda simply because he appears to be a serious source and it's always cool to write about S.&M. And now he's trying a new angle which will put her at a disadvantage in the public consciousness, and which he wants S.M.P. to help disseminate. Sorry, but not on my watch."
"I understand."
"Do you? Good. Then I can sum up everything I said in two sentences. Your job description as a journalist is to question and scrutinize most critically. And never to repeat claims uncritically, no matter how highly placed the sources in the bureaucracy. Don't ever forget that. You're a terrific writer, but that talent is completely worthless if you forget your job description."
"Right."
"I intend to kill this story."
"I understand."
"This doesn't mean that I distrust you."
"Thank you."
"So that's why I'm sending you back to your desk with a proposal for a new story."
"Alright."
"The whole thing has to do with my contract with Millennium. I'm not allowed to reveal what I know about the Salander story. At the same time I'm editor-in-chief of a newspaper that's in danger of skidding because the newsroom doesn't have the information that I have. And we can't allow that to happen. This is a unique situation and applies only to Salander. That's why I've decided to choose a reporter and steer him in the right direction so that we won't end up with our trousers down when Millennium comes out."
"And you think that Millennium will be publishing something noteworthy about Salander?"
"I don't think so, I know so. Millennium is sitting on a scoop that will turn the Salander story on its head, and it's driving me crazy that I can't go public with it."
"You say you're rejecting my article because you know that it isn't true. That means there's something in the story that all the other reporters have missed."
"Exactly."
"I'm sorry, but it's difficult to believe that the entire Swedish media has been duped in the same way..."
"Salander has been the object of a media frenzy. That's when normal rules no longer apply, and any drivel can be posted on a billboard."
"So you're saying that Salander isn't exactly what she seems to be."
"Try out the idea that she's innocent of these accusations, that the picture painted of her on the billboards is nonsense, and that there are forces at work you haven't even dreamed of."
"Is that the truth?"
Berger nodded.
"So what I just handed in is part of a continuing campaign against her."
"Precisely."
Frisk scratched his head. Berger waited until he had finished thinking.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Go back to your desk and start working on another story. You don't have to stress out about it, but just before the trial begins we might be able to publish a whole feature that examines the accuracy of all the statements that have been made about Salander. Start by reading through the clippings, list everything that's been said about her, and check off the allegations one by one."
"Alright."
"Think like a reporter. Investigate who's spreading the story, why it's being spread, and ask yourself whose interests it might serve."
"But I probably won't be at S.M.P. when the trial starts. This is my last week."
Berger took a plastic folder from a desk drawer and laid a sheet of paper in front of him.
"I've extended your assignment by three months. You'll finish off this week with your ordinary duties and report in here on Monday."
"Thank you."
"If you want to keep working at S.M.P., that is."
"Of course I do."
"You're contracted to do investigative work outside the normal editorial job. You'll report directly to me. You're going to be a special correspondent assigned to the Salander trial."
"The news editor is going to have something to say - "
"Don't worry about Holm. I've talked with the head of the legal department and fixed it so there won't be any hassle there. But you're going to be digging into the background, not news reporting. Does that sound good?"
"It sounds fantastic."
"Right then... that's all. I'll see you on Monday."
As she waved him out of the glass cage she saw Holm watching her from the other side of the news desk. He lowered his gaze and pretended that he had not been looking at her.
CHAPTER 11
FRIDAY, 13.V - SATURDAY, 14.V
Blomkvist made sure that he was not being watched when he walked from the Millennium offices early on Friday morning to Salander's old apartment block on Lundagatan. He had to meet Idris Ghidi in Goteborg. The question was how to