The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium 3)

"It feels strange to be walking around with bodyguards," Blomkvist said. "What's all this going to cost?"

"It's on the firm. I have a personal interest in keeping you alive. But, since you ask, we've spent roughly 250,000 kronor on pro bono work in the past few months."

"Coffee?" Blomkvist said, pointing to the Italian cafe on Bergsgatan.

Blomkvist ordered a latte and Armansky a double espresso with a teaspoon of milk. They sat in the shade on the sidewalk outside. The bodyguards sat at the next table drinking Cokes.

"Closed court," Armansky said.

"That was expected. And it's OK, since it means that we can control the news flow better."

"You're right, it doesn't matter to us, but my opinion of Prosecutor Ekstrom is sinking fast," Armansky said.

They drank their coffee and contemplated the courthouse in which Salander's future would be decided.

"Custer's last stand," Blomkvist said.

"She's well prepared," Armansky said. "And I must say I'm impressed with your sister. When she began planning her strategy I thought it made no sense, but the more I think about it, the more effective it seems."

"This trial won't be decided in there," Blomkvist said. He had been repeating these words like a mantra for several months.

"You're going to be called as a witness," Armansky said.

"I know. I'm ready. But it won't happen before the day after tomorrow. At least that's what we're counting on."

Ekstrom had left his reading glasses at home and had to push his glasses up onto his forehead and squint to be able to read the last-minute handwritten additions to his text. He stroked his blond goatee before he readjusted his glasses once more and surveyed the room.

Salander sat with her back ramrod straight and gave the prosecutor an unfathomable look. Her face and eyes were impassive, and she did not appear to be wholly present. It was time for the prosecutor to begin questioning her.

"I would like to remind Froken Salander that she is speaking under oath," Ekstrom said at last.

Salander did not move a muscle. Prosecutor Ekstrom seemed to be anticipating some sort of response and waited for a few seconds. He looked at her expectantly.

"You are speaking under oath," he said.

Salander tilted her head very slightly. Giannini was busy reading something in the preliminary investigation protocol and seemed unconcerned by whatever Prosecutor Ekstrom was saying. Ekstrom shuffled his papers. After an uncomfortable silence he cleared his throat.

"Very well then," Ekstrom said. "Let us proceed directly to the events at the late Advokat Bjurman's summer cabin outside Stallarholmen on April 6 of this year, which was the starting point of my presentation of the case this morning. We shall attempt to bring clarity to how it happened that you drove down to Stallarholmen and shot Carl-Magnus Lundin."

Ekstrom gave Salander a challenging look. Still she did not move a muscle. The pros

ecutor suddenly seemed resigned. He threw up his hands and looked pleadingly at the judge. Judge Iversen seemed wary. He glanced at Giannini, who was still engrossed in some papers, apparently unaware of her surroundings.

Judge Iversen cleared his throat. He looked at Salander. "Are we to interpret your silence to mean that you don't want to answer any questions?" he asked.

Salander turned her head and met Judge Iversen's eyes.

"I will gladly answer questions," she said.

Judge Iversen nodded.

"Then perhaps you can answer the question," Ekstrom put in.

Salander looked at Ekstrom and said nothing.

"Could you please answer the question?" Judge Iversen urged her.

Salander looked back at the judge and raised her eyebrows. Her voice was clear and distinct.

"Which question? Until now that man there"--she nodded towards Ekstrom--"has made a number of unverified statements. I haven't yet heard a question."

Giannini looked up. She propped her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on her hand with an interested expression.

Ekstrom lost his train of thought for a few seconds.

"Could you please repeat the question?" Judge Iversen said.

"I asked whether . . . you drove down to Advokat Bjurman's summer cabin in Stallarholmen with the intention of shooting Carl-Magnus Lundin."

"No. You said that you were going to try to bring clarity to how it happened that I drove down to Stallarholmen and shot Carl-Magnus Lundin. That was not a question. It was a general assertion in which you anticipated my answer. I'm not responsible for the assertions you are making."

"Don't quibble. Answer the question."

"No."

Silence.

"No what?"

"No is my answer to the question."

Prosecutor Ekstrom sighed. This was going to be a long day. Salander watched him expectantly.

"It might be best to take this from the beginning," he said. "Were you at the late Advokat Bjurman's summer cabin in Stallarholmen on the afternoon of April 6 this year?"

"Yes."

"How did you get there?"

"I went by shuttle train to Sodertalje and took the Strangnas bus."