“Lisbeth, you’re a very special person,” Mimmi said. “I’d still like to be your friend.”
They talked for two hours. Salander did not have any reason to hide her past from Miriam Wu. The Zalachenko business was familiar to everyone who had access to a Swedish newspaper, and Mimmi had followed the story with great interest. She gave Salander a detailed account of what had happened in Nykvarn the night Paolo Roberto saved her life.
Then they went back to Mimmi’s student lodgings near the university.
EPILOGUE. INVENTORY OF ESTATE
Giannini met Salander in the bar of the Sodra theatre at 9.00. Salander was drinking beer and was already coming to the end of her second glass.
“Sorry I’m late,” Giannini said, glancing at her watch. “I had to deal with another client.”
“That’s O.K.,” said Lisbeth.
“What are you celebrating?”
“Nothing. I just feel like getting drunk.”
Giannini looked at her sceptically and took a seat.
“Do you often feel that way?”
“I drank myself stupid after I was released, but I have no tendency to alcoholism. It just occurred to me that for the first time in my life I have a legal right to get drunk here in Sweden.”
Giannini ordered a Campari.
“O.K. Do you want to drink alone,” she said, “or would you like some company?”
“Preferably alone. But if you don’t talk too much you can sit with me. I take it you don’t feel like coming home with me and having sex.”
“I beg your pardon?” Giannini said.
“No, I didn’t think so. You’re one of those insanely heterosexual people.”
Giannini suddenly looked amused.
“That’s the first time in my life that one of my clients has proposed sex.”
“Are you interested?”
“No, not in the least, sorry. But thanks for the offer.”
“So what was it you wanted, counsellor?”
“Two things. Either I quit as your lawyer here and now or you start answering your telephone when I call. We’ve already had this discussion, when you were released.”
Salander looked at Giannini.
“I’ve been trying to get hold of you for a week. I’ve called, I’ve sent letters, I’ve emailed.”
“I’ve been away.”
“In fact you’ve been impossible to get hold of for most of the autumn. This just isn’t working. I said I would represent you in all negotiations with the government. There are formalities that have to be taken care of. Papers to be signed. Questions to be answered. I have to be able to reach you, and I have no wish to be made to feel like an idiot because I don’t know where the hell you are.”
“I was away again for two weeks. I came home yesterday and called you as soon as I knew you were looking for me.”
“That’s not good enough. You have to keep me informed of where you are and get in touch at least once a week until all the issues about compensation and such are resolved.”
“I don’t give a shit about compensation. I just want the government to leave me alone.”
“But the government isn’t going to leave you alone, no matter how much you may want it to. Your acquittal has set in motion a long chain of consequences. It’s not just about you. Teleborian is going to be charged for what he did to you. You’re going to have to testify. Ekstrom is the subject of an investigation for dereliction of duty, and he may even be charged too if it turns out that he deliberately disregarded his duty at the behest of the Section.”
Salander raised her eyebrows. For a moment she looked interested.
“I don’t think it’s going to come to an indictment. He was led up the garden path by the Section and in fact he had nothing to do with them. But as recently as last week a prosecutor initiated a preliminary investigation against the guardianship agency. It involves several reports being sent to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, as well as a report to the Ministry of Justice.”
“I didn’t report anyone.”
“No. But it’s obvious that there has been gross dereliction of duty. You’re not the only person affected.”
Salander shrugged. “This has nothing to do with me. But I promise to be in closer contact with you. These last two weeks have been an exception. I’ve been working.”
Giannini did not look as though she believed her. “What are you working on?”
“Consulting.”
“I see,” she said. “The other thing is that the inventory of the estate is now ready.”
“Inventory of what estate?”
“Your father’s. The state’s legal representative contacted me since nobody seemed to know how to get in touch with you. You and your sister are the sole heirs.”
Salander looked at Giannini blankly. Then she caught the waitress’s eye and pointed at her glass.
“I don’t want any inheritance from my father. Do whatever the hell you want with it.”
“Wrong. You can do what you want with the inheritance. My job is to see to it that you have the opportunity to do so.”
“I don’t want a single ore from that pig.”
“Then give the money to Greenpeace or something.”
“I don’t give a shit about whales.”
Giannini’s voice suddenly softened. “Lisbeth, if you’re going to be a legally responsible citizen, then you’re going to have to start behaving like one. I don’t give a damn what you do with your money. Just sign here that you received it, and then you can get drunk in peace.”
Salander glanced at her and then looked down at the table. Annika assumed this was some kind of conciliatory gesture that perhaps corresponded to an apology in Salander’s limited register of expressions.
“What kind of figures are we talking about?”
“They’re not insignificant. Your father had about 300,000 kronor in shares. The property in Gosseberga would sell for around 1.5 million – there’s a little woodland included. And there are three other properties.”
“What sort of properties?”
“It seems that he invested a significant amount of money. There’s nothing of enormous value, but he owns a small building in Udderalla with six apartments, and they bring in some income. But the property is not in good shape. He didn’t bother with upkeep and the apartments have even been up before the rental board. You won’t get rich, but you’d get a good price if you sold it. He also owns a summer cabin in Smaland that’s worth around 250,000 kronor. Plus he owns a dilapidated industrial site outside Norrtalje.”
“Why in the world did he buy all this shit?”
“I have no idea. But the estate could bring in over four million kronor after taxes etc., but…”
“But what?”
“The inheritance has to be divided equally between you and your sister. The problem is that nobody knows where your sister is.”
Salander looked at Giannini in silence.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Where is your sister?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t seen her for ten years.”
