The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy Bundle by Stieg Larsson

so-called “Wennerström affair.”
    The magazine will come out as usual next month, says Berger.
    â€œMikael Blomkvist has played a major role in the magazine’s development, but now we’re turning a new page.”
    Berger states that she regards the Wennerström affair as the result of a series of unfortunate circumstances. She regrets the nuisance to which Hans-Erik Wennerström was subjected. Blomkvist could not be reached for comment.

    â€œIt makes me mad,” Berger said when the press release was emailed out. “Most people are going to think that you’re an idiot and I’m a bitch who’s taking the opportunity to sack you.”
    â€œAt least our friends will have something new to laugh about.” Blomkvist tried to make light of it; she was not the least amused.
    â€œI don’t have a plan B, but I think we’re making a mistake,” she said.
    â€œIt’s the only way out. If the magazine collapses, all our years of work will have been in vain. We’ve already taken a beating on the ads revenue. How did it go with the computer company, by the way?”
    She sighed. “They told me this morning that they didn’t want to take space in the next issue.”
    â€œWennerström has a chunk of stock in that company, so it’s no accident.”
    â€œWe can scare up some new clients. Wennerström may be a big wheel, but he doesn’t own everything in Sweden, and we have our contacts.”
    Blomkvist put an arm around her and pulled her close.
    â€œSome day we’re going to nail Herr Wennerström so hard Wall Street is going to jump out of its socks. But today
Millennium
has to get out of the spotlight.”
    â€œI know all that, but I don’t like coming across as a fucking bitch, and you’re being forced into a disgusting situation if we pretend that there’s some sort of division between you and me.”
    â€œRicky, as long as you and I trust each other we’ve got a chance. We have to play it by ear, and right now it’s time to retreat.”
    She reluctantly admitted that there was a depressing logic to what he said.

CHAPTER 4
Monday, December 23–Thursday, December 26

    Berger stayed over the weekend. They got up only to go to the bathroom or to get something to eat, but they had not only made love. They had lain head to foot for hours and talked about the future, weighing up the possibilities, and the odds. When dawn came on Monday morning it was the day before Christmas Eve and she kissed him goodbye—until next time—and drove home.
    Blomkvist spent Monday washing dishes and cleaning the apartment, then walking down to the office and clearing out his desk. He had no intention of breaking ties with the magazine, but he had eventually convinced Berger that he had to be separated from the magazine for a time. He would work from home.
    The office was closed for the Christmas holidays and all his colleagues were gone. He was weeding through trays of papers and packing books in cartons to take away when the telephone rang.
    â€œI’m looking for Mikael Blomkvist,” said a hopeful but unfamiliar voice on the line.
    â€œSpeaking.”
    â€œForgive me for bothering you like this unannounced, so to speak. My name is Dirch Frode.” Blomkvist noted the name and the time. “I’m a lawyer, and I represent a client who would very much like to have a talk with you.”
    â€œThat’s fine, please ask your client to call me.”
    â€œI mean that he wants to meet with you in person.”
    â€œOK, make an appointment and send him up to the office. But you’d better hurry; I’m clearing out my desk right now.”
    â€œMy client would like you to visit him in Hedestad—it’s only three hours by train.”
    Blomkvist pushed a filing tray aside. The media have the ability to attract the craziest people to call in perfectly absurd tips. Every newsroom