Hello, Armansky.
- Where have you been? - Travelling.
Blomkvist's been trying to get hold of you. He calls at least once a month.
- l'll put your name on the contract. - So where do you live?
Somewhere else.
I have proof of a number of prominent customers.
We'll be stepping on a few toes.
I need information on a gangster called Zala.
Dag?
The murder weapon belongs to Nils Erik Bjurman.
We managed to lift two prints.
- Does she have a name? - Lisbeth Salander.
- A police report from '93. Salander. - l keep them at my country home.
And guess who's her guardian. Nils Bjurman.
- There's something you should see. - It's a fine motive for murder.
We're on the verge of publishing the names
of people who definitely don't want this kind of attention.
- Who is Zala? - I don't know.
- Shouldn't the police have this list? - No.
l need your help, Paolo. l need to find a friend of hers, Miriam wu.
l didn't kill Dag and Mia. Find Zala if you want to help me.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
PART 4
I'm used to getting slammed, but this guy was something else.
- What did he look like? - Like a blond tank.
I'm not kidding you. Pure muscle.
- And you've never seen him before? - Never.
He moved like a boxer, held his fists up right.
- But he was kind of vacant. - Like hopped up on drugs?
No, that's what was so strange.
I could hit him when I wanted, as hard as I could
It was like he'd taken boxing lessons but not really paid attention.
There's another weird thing about this.
What's that?
I punched him hard in the face, about a hundred times.
But nothing happened.
It was like he didn't feel anything.
- Hello. Ward 1 B, please. - That's further down.
Thank you.
Jan Bublanski.
- How are you feeling? - Fabulous.
I'll find us a room where we can talk in private.
- How's Miriam Wu? - The doctor's still with her.
She looks like me, but they weren't after her. They want Lisbeth Salander.
All this has something to do with a man named Zala.
Dag Svensson tied him to the murder of a prostitute named Irina.
- She was found dead in a canal. - What about Bjurman?
OK that Dag was silenced, but who'd kill Salander's guardian?
OK, I don't have it all pieced together.
But there must be a link between Zala and Bjurman.
Goodbye.
You lied to me!
- You lied to me last time I was here! - Did I?
Yes. You and Bjurman worked for the security police in the '70s.
You made out you didn't know him.
I don't have to tell you who I've worked with.
Do you know who Zala is?
- So you do know? - I didn't say that.
I didn't say that.
What do you want?
He's one of the names on our reporter Dag Svensson's list.
One of the people he was interested in.
If I know anything about Zala, what would it be worth to you?
It depends on what you know.
Would you consider forgetting me in your report?
- Sing a little bit. - No.
- Come on, sing. - Show us what you're made of.
- Not here. - It's our stop.
Come on.
How much?
Half. 200 grand. In cash.
OK.
- I'll have to go and get the money. - When?
- We can do it right now. - I'll do it.
By the way, how did it go?
- How did what go? - What do you mean?
The summer house.
Bjurman's place. You were going to torch it.
We were just about... We haven't got around to it yet.
- You haven't? - We'll do it now. And get your money.
We'll be back with the money in a little while, OK?
I'll wait right here.
Shit, if it isn't that Salander bitch.
We've been looking all over for you.
Not even that dyke knew where you were. At least that's what she said.
- Isn't that so, Magge? - Look at her.
She looks like she could use a good honest fuck.
Get out of my way, goon.
What the hell?
Hi. Your firstjob is to identify the large, blond man
and his bald companion who kidnapped and assaulted Miriam Wu.
The second job is to go through the list of punters
that was on the murdered reporter's computer.
- List of punters? - Sonia, I want you to take charge of that.
Niklas, you help.
Thirdly, we must focus on an unknown man called Zala.
- That's yourjob, Faste. - My job?
Get assistance from the special investigative group on...
Hang on. Hang on. What's your game?
- My game? - Yes.
- What game? - Our focus must be on Lisbeth Salander.
We have to check all secondary leads.
That's bullshit.
What, do you think all psychiatric reports on her are a joke?
- She's tied to the murder weapon! - I know.
There are indications that she and that dyke Wu are prostitutes
and I'll be fucked if she's not part of some lesbian sex cult.
Shut it. You're obsessed with that gay angle. It's not professional.
So it's professional to ignore the fact that she's a violent psycho?
- What the fuck...? - That's enough.
Damned right.
Did you have anything else?
I don't want anyone mentioning Paolo Roberto. If the media hears of it...
OK.
Which one of you is the leak?
Who?
A reporter called Tony Scala has spoken to a cop
who told him about Miriam Wu.
What? You're joking.
The article describes the source as a "she".
The papers are clamouring to know Paolo Roberto's role in this.
- It wasn't me! - She says she's not the leak.
Modig, I can't prove that you are leaking information.
But I've lost all confidence in you.
She says she's not the leak.
- I'm taking you off the case. - You can't do that now.
Take the rest of the week off. You'll be assigned new duties on Monday.
Sonja...
You're still on the case for now. My orders.
Go to Millennium and have another chat with Mikael Blomkvist.
Ask him to help you go through Dag Svensson's hard drive. They have a copy.
- I haven't spoken to Niklas yet. - Leave that to me.
Well...
So...
Right.
The fire's out.
They brought in a dog to sniff out any dead bodies in the rubble.
- And were there any? - No, there weren't.
But when we took a break to give the dog's nose a rest,
the handler took a walk and let him loose.
He tracked something.
So we dug up the spot and found a body, chopped into six parts.
- A chainsaw? - What?
Chainsaw. Could the body have been cut up with a chainsaw?
Paolo Roberto said Miriam had been threatened with one.
I haven't looked that closely.
We've just started to dig it up, and they're still erecting the tent.
I'll send Niklas over.
- l'm sure you can do with one more. - Good.
Niklas?
Hi, Niklas. Tony here.
Thanks for the help. l was wondering if you've got anymore...
- Tony Scala? - What?
I'll start by seeing the punters Dag was going to expose.
Good. So let's take a look.
Sten Fahlström's done. He's done.
Karl Petersson's done.
- What about Per-Åke Sandström? - Dag had confronted him.
And that security police guy? Björck.
There's a tie between Björck and Bjurman.
I'm not through with Björck yet.
- Björck. - Blomkvist. You didn't get back to me.
What do you want?
Tomorrow's my press conference about the murders of Dag and Mia.
I plan to discuss our sex trade article.
You're the only punter I'm fingering.
- You promised to give me time. - Yes, but I changed my mind.
lf you hold that press conference, you'll never learn about Zala.
That's possible, but then it won't be my problem anymore.
You'll have to talk to the official police inquiry
- and the rest of the media. - Just hold up there.
I want to charge Niklas with breach of confidentiality, but Ekström doesn't.
- What'll happen to him? - We kicked him out.
He said he did it for money.
- He said he was hard up. - He's renovating his house.
He called Tony Scala five minutes after the morning meeting.
Shortly afterwards Scala had put it all out on the net.
You are formally back on the case, Sonja.
Though I wouldn't expect an apology from Ekström if I were you.
No.
I'm not one to talk shit about my superiors, but he can go hang.
His name is Alexander Zalachenko, but he's known as Zala.
Who is he? Where can I find him?
- He's not someone you want to find. - But I want to.
- He doesn't actually exist. - What do you mean?
This is classified information.
I hope you understand that my name must be kept secret.
I've agreed to that already.
Zalachenko was born in 1940, in the Soviet Union.
Both of his parents died in World War Two.
- I expect you know what the GRU was? - Their military intelligence service.
He had quite a career there.
Fluent in six languages, an expert at camouflage... and survival.
So he was allowed to stay.
No senior officer of GRU had ever defected to Sweden before.
Where does Bjurman fit in?
Well, we were young back then. 25, 30.
Completely unqualified to take care of a man like Zalachenko.
He showed up on election day, in 1976.
Police headquarters was practically empty.
Nearly everyone was out on special duty.
I was on call, and I thought he was an ordinary refugee.
So I brought Bjurman along to manage the paperwork.
It was pure chance that Bjurman got involved.
- Chance? - Yes, actually.
Morning glory.
- What? - That's what it's called.
- Where is Zalachenko? - I was his contact until 1985.
After that, I was assigned to other duties.
You gave him a new identity and a Swedish name. What's his Swedish name?
- I won't tell you that. - Come on.
I've told you who Zala is
and that's all you get until I know you'll keep your word.
He's committed three murders. The police are on the wrong track.
Why are you so sure Lisbeth Salander didn't do it?
- I believe Zalachenko did it. - You're wrong.
Zala didn't shoot anyone. He's 69 and handicapped.
The guy needs a crutch, so he can't exactly run around shooting people.
He'd need to call the mobility service to get to his victims.
I hope I won't be seeing my name in the papers.
So you're telling me that Lisbeth Salander showed up
and beat the shit out of a couple of bikers single-handedly?
Yes.
She's trained by Paolo Roberto.
Anyway, Magnus "Magge" Lundin has a bullet wound in the foot
and injuries to the face, with a broken nose
and two missing teeth.
He also seems to have serious groin pains.
And the other one? Nieminen?
He seems to be unharmed.
But according to the witness there who called us,
he was lying unconscious on the ground when she turned up.
And another thing. This Magge Lundin...
He's got a big belly and is bald.
One of Miriam Wu's kidnappers was bald and had a beer gut.
- You're not on the lazy side, I see. - No.
- l've just met Björck. - Good.
Is he done? Can we use him?
Not this time. He's not to be included.
- What do you mean? - I'll tell you later.
When are you coming? Sonja Modig's here.
They want our help going through Dag's material. We can't spare anyone.
- I'll be there after I've met someone. - A punter?
No, not a punter.
He's willing to see you. But if he doesn't like you, he'll throw you out.
No interviews and nothing in the media, is that clear?
OK.
Who are you, claiming to be a friend of Lisbeth Salander?
I'm Mikael Blomkvist. I know other reporters have been pestering you,
but I'm not here about an article. I'm here for Lisbeth's sake.
I don't think Lisbeth Salander's involved in these killings.
I think a man named Zalachenko is behind it all.
Sit down.
Zalachenko.
Alexander Zalachenko.
Do you know who he is?
He's Lisbeth's father.
ST STEFAN'S HOSPITAL
with reference to our conversation, the child must be removed...
Thank you for your letter. l agree with you about the state of affairs...
The medical evaluation will show that the child is mentally ill...
...less likely that she will inadvertently cause problems...
...propose incarceration at St Stefan's.
And do not worry about the time. l take full responsibility.
Yours sincerely, Peter Teleborian. Uppsala, 1 1th March, 1993.
Lisbeth's mother's name was Agneta Sjölander.
She was only 17 when Zalachenko met her.
But they never married.
When Lisbeth was born,
Agneta changed her name
from Sjölander to Salander.
It was a way to demonstrate that they were a couple.
What do you mean?
Zala - Salander.
Jesus Christ.
Zalachenko wasn't home much.
The others hardly knew where he was.
But every now and then he'd show up...
...at their home on Lundagatan.
And every time, this would happen.
He'd get drunk, he'd beat Agneta,
sexually assault her and leave.
It happened dozens of times.
Social services should have done something, but nothing happened.
Not until 1993.
- What happened then? - Please, sit down.
OK.
Lisbeth... was 12 years old.
Zalachenko was leaving...
...and Lisbeth was terrified that her mother would harm herself.
She played truant from school.
Zalachenko laughed when Lisbeth found her mother
unconscious on the kitchen floor.
He got into his car, and he...
But Lisbeth came after him.
She dumped a...
a milk carton full of gasoline over him
and then a lit match.
Oh, my God.
man is sitting in his car...
...and burning like a torch.
This time there were consequences.
Lisbeth was sent to...
...a mental institution for children.
Her mother spent the last years of her life in hospital.
She was never herself after that.
- Her alleged mental disturbance... - Peter Teleborian.
He was responsible for committing her.
- Dinner time, Holger. - I'll give him a hand.
Mikael, we can at least agree on one thing.
- Lisbeth is not a normal person. - No.
- Have you ever played chess with her? - Chess?
Yes. She has a photographic memory.
Yes, I know.
There's something you don't know.
About Reine.
Cold-blooded murder in Stockholm, in Eftersnack.
A man in his mid 30s was shot today at a summer home near Strängnäs.
He had been shot in the legs but is not in a critical condition.
The police decline to go into details but say there is a connection
to the three murders that took place a week ago.
The police will be holding a press conference this evening.
More on that in our late bulletin.
And now some traffic alerts.
An emergency vehicle
is travelling at speed from Södertälje to Svavelsjö.
lf you are in the area, please be aware...
Teleborian and Björck must have had some kind of cooperation agreement.
I don't understand why you didn't do anything during all those years.
I was Lisbeth's guardian.
So she was just one in a long line...
...of boys and girls with problems.
Teleborian declared that Lisbeth was psychotic
and could receive the best possible care at St Stefan's.
I believed him. Of course I believed him.
And Björck?
He wanted her committed.
I defended her cause.
I didn't want her to spend her life incarcerated in some institution.
So the compromise was a declaration of incompetency.
And I was appointed her guardian.
Don't blame yourself. You were one of the few who stood up for her.
But I can see why she has issues with the authorities and psychologists.
When you had your stroke...
Do you think Bjurman got the job just by chance?
- No. - No.
Me neither.
There's wild media speculation about Paolo Roberto's involvement in this.
We'll probably get loads of questions about links here and there.
So we must focus on questions concerning Lisbeth Salander.
This is our chance to get tip-offs from the public as to her whereabouts
so we can break this deadlock.
Hi.
Does the name Alexander Zalachenko mean anything to you?
- No. I've got a press briefing soon. - Aka Zala. You know that name.
Alexander Zalachenko is Lisbeth Salander's father.
She threw a fire bomb at him in 1993, and the police investigated the matter.
- It was the security police. - Why is that?
Because Alexander Zalachenko worked for them.
They didn't want it made public. He doesn't officially exist, you see.
- Where did you get this information? - I want you to find the files.
They've got to be in there somewhere.
I believe the files will lead us to Zalachenko.
And I'm convinced he was involved in Dag and Mia's deaths.
Possibly even Bjurman's death.
But it couldn't be Lisbeth Salander, right?
Her prints are on the gun.
- I know it seems strange. - It damn well does.
What's up between you two? Why doesn't she come forward if she's innocent?
Because Lisbeth is...
She's a very private person.
I don't like these allegations against the police.
We have enough problems. We don't need the help of some amateur private eye.
Is there a link between the summer house shooting,
Paolo Roberto and Miriam wu's kidnap?
No, there is nothing to suggest
that Salander was involved
in the kidnapping of Miriam Wu.
Do you still regard Lisbeth as posing a public threat?
She shot a man. She's armed.
So obviously we'd like to get hold of her.
Do you know who kidnapped Miriam Wu?
l'll turn that question over to Jan Bublanski.
ln connection with today's shooting, we have identified a man
who may have driven the van during the kidnapping attempt.
- The man who was shot? - I decline to comment on that.
However, we have no leads on the person who assaulted Wu and Roberto.
- Do you have a description? - A forensic sketch has been made.
Based on witness accounts.
A tall man with a muscular build. In his mid to late 30s.
Body-builder type. Short, pale blond hair.
The media will have access to this image after this briefing...
- AutoExpress? - My name's Gunilla Hansson.
My dog's been run over and the bastard was driving one of your cars.
Sorry to hear that.
I want his name so l can claim compensation.
- Have you reported it? -No, l want to settle amicably.
l can't release any customer's name unless a police report's been made.
- But, look, he ran over my dog. - Sorry. We need a police report.
Shit.
The police have not yet apprehended the armed woman in her late 20s,
who was observed after the shooting
on the outskirts of Strängnäs, leaving the scene on a motorcycle.
Certain facts indicate an underworld dispute.
They haven't understood a damn thing!
Bublanski won't listen. They're chasing the wrong lead.
If the police arrest Lisbeth, all hell could break loose!
- Where are you going? - Home!
- Want me to come along? - No, I'm not good company.
You don't have to be good company.
Lisbeth, I know who Zalachenko is. Palmgren told me.
I know what Teleborian did and why you were locked up in that clinic.
l know who killed Dag and Mia but not where Bjurman fits in.
Please contact me. We can solve this.
THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND
It's me, OK?
Is this the guy? Is that what he looked like?
He was awful. He was a monster.
Christ. I'm so sorry.
They were looking for you. You do realise that, don't you?
What have you done?
Paolo said Blomkvist contacted him, trying to get hold of you.
- What's going on between you two? - I've got to go.
Where are you going?
- I have some unfinished business. - Damn it, Lisbeth!
Someone was in here!
Someone short, blond, who ran off.
I'll be back with something to help you sleep.
I should have done it a long time ago.
Inside! Go on!
Stop!
- Show me your rental records. - They're on the computer.
Turn it on.
Come on. Nice and easy.
Open that locker.
Give me your phone.
Get in. Do it, so I won't have to hurt you.
LICENCE PLATE NUMBER
Are you OK in there?
- Where are your rental contracts? - A red binder, above my desk.
I've found what I'm looking for. I'll be out of here soon.
I need to rent a car.
A blue Golf. What's the rental for 24 hours?
345 kronor.
Here's ten grand. And you'll get the car back.
THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND
Hello?
Hi, it's Miriam. Miriam wu.
Could you come to the hospital?
- She was here? When? - A few hours ago.
Did she say where she was going?
No.
No, she wouldn't.
If she finds that monster, she won't be able to take him. He'll kill her.
- Here. She forgot these. - Forgot?
Well, they fell out of her backpack.
I have no idea where she lives. Do you?
So how long will you be in here for?
A few weeks, and then I'll take the train back to Paris.
I don't want to be here anymore.
- What is it? - It looks like a PO box key.
Good.
Thanks.
- Will this do? - Yes. Thanks.
EXCLUSIVE APARTMENT
Hello?
Lisbeth?
Traffic Radio Gothenburg. We have news about the accident in Gråbo, road 190.
The road is open again, but traffic is moving slowly.
- Hello. - Baby, what do you look like?
I know, I look terrible. Is Blomkvist around?
He's out playing private eye somewhere.
- Coffee? - I'd love some, thanks.
This was taken 17 years ago. This guy, Ronald Niederman,
was 18 at the time, making him 35 now.
- Where'd you get this? - Dynamic, in Hamburg.
I told Micke that the guy was a lousy boxer
but that he circled like one, so he must have had training.
I emailed a bunch of European boxing clubs,
told them what had happened and described the guy.
Turns out he has a rare disorder.
Congenital analgesia.
- What's that? - I looked it up.
It's a genetic disorder.
Nerve impulses aren't transmitted properly. You don't experience pain.
- What a bonus for a boxer. - On the contrary.
If you put your hand on a hotplate, you'll burn yourself. It hurts.
If you have this disease, you won't notice it till you smell burning flesh.
- Yes? - Hi, it's Malin.
- Roberto's identified our blond giant. - That's good.
- Where are you? - It's complicated.
- You sound distracted. - Sorry?
Paolo found out his name. It's Niederman.
Great. Do you have an address?
No. All we have is a 17-year-old German photo.
Hello? Micke?
See if you can find any records on him and call me.
Are you nice?
lf you're nice... lf you're nice...
...l'll be nice too. lf you're nice...
Be nice...
- Hello? - Hi, it's me again.
l think l've got something.
Ronald Niederman is not registered as living in Sweden, but in 1998,
a company called KAB lmport was registered.
OK...
- Micke? - Carry on.
- ls everything OK? - No, it's not. Go on.
The chairman of the board is Karl Axel Bodin,
and one of the board members is listed as R Niederman.
Born 18th January, 1973, and he...
Any address?
Yes...
...Karl-Axel Bodin lives in western Sweden,
and his mailing address is PO Box 612, Gosseberga.
"Men who buy sex."
Nice. Really nice.
- Erika. - Where have you been?
- Come on. - What's up?
Come!
Zala is Lisbeth's father.
An old Soviet hit man from the GRU who defected in 1976.
He's now a gangster, involved in trafficking, weapons, drugs...
Did he kill Dag and Mia?
Not personally. He probably sent someone, maybe that Niederman.
We have to tell the police this.
I've tried. Bublanski won't listen.
I think Niederman is somewhere north of Gothenburg.
If Malin can track him down, then Lisbeth can.
Now Lisbeth is on the hunt for Zalachenko.
- I don't like this. - Lisbeth is wanted for triple murder.
Ifwe contact the police, they'll deploy the National Task Force.
And anything could happen.
We should keep the police out of this for as long as we can.
Mikael.
We can't withhold information from the police, not in a murder case.
We won't.
I want you to do something for me.
Here are Björck's files from the 1993 investigation.
It includes correspondence between Björck and Teleborian about Lisbeth.
Make copies and send the originals to Bublanski.
I'm going to Gothenburg, to find her before the police do.
I'm going to be there for her all the way. I owe her that.
Christ, please be careful.
Micke.
- Package for you. - Thank you.
Would he have been pleased with this?
- Who? - Dag.
Do you think so?
Itjust seems so unfair that he never got to see this in print.
After all the work he'd put into it.
A toast. To Dag.
A toast to Mia.
- To Dag and Mia. - We need more like them.
Hello, Dad.
- Yes? - Bublanski and Modig are here.
They have read the files on Lisbeth Salander from '93.
And they want Gunnar Björck's address.
- Should we give it to them? - They can find it themselves.
How hard can it be? They are the police!
Let me speak to him.
Blomkvist, l think you should come to the station and make a formal statement.
- I don't have the time. - Sorry?
- I'm not in Stockholm. - So where are you?
I'm just an ignorant private eye, remember?
Grow up. I don't think Salander's guilty, either.
Put Erika back on.
- Yes? - Give him Björck's address.
And l'm switching off my phone, so they can't track me. Bye.
Bye.
I've been watching you. Since four o'clock.
I didn't think you'd have the guts to show yourself.
You managed to set off every single alarm.
You've got motion detectors?
Two facing the grounds, four facing the field.
You look like shit.
But you've got my eyes.
Does it hurt?
I've thought about you over the years.
Like every time I see myself in the mirror.
- You should have left my mother alone. - Your mother...
- Your mother was a whore. - No, she wasn't.
She worked at a grocery store and tried hard to make ends meet.
Believe whatever you like about your mother.
But she was a whore.
If you'd left well alone, I wouldn't have cared.
I hate you.
- But I've forgiven you. - Bullshit! Bjurman hired you to kill me.
That's completely different. That's business.
You had this film he wanted.
And I have a modest business operation.
Did he really rape you?
Christ, the guy must have god-awful taste.
Maybe I'll ask Niederman to give you a good shafting. Looks like you need it.
Why don't you do it yourself?
Sit. Sit down!
Or I will shoot you like a dog.
Why don't I give you a good shafting?
That would be...
...perverse.
Where did you find that freak?
Do you mean you haven't figured it out?
They say you're a skilled researcher.
But I guess that's not true.
Niederman helped me
when I was convalescing after your little fire bomb.
Now it's more of a partnership.
Do you mean to say you haven't realised who he is?
He's your brother.
- What? - Actually, he's your half-brother.
The result of a fling long ago, in Germany.
A last one.
Did Niederman kill Bjurman, too? Why?
Bjurman was a fool, and he had documents that belonged to me.
He was one of the few people who knew about my past.
I couldn't trust him to keep his mouth shut.
Particularly when those journalists were poking around.
It was too much.
And he was stupid enough to tell us that he owned a pistol.
A pistol with fingerprints on it.
Your fingerprints.
You shouldn't have touched the gun, Lisbeth.
You've been too sloppy. The police will find you.
Oh, dear, I'm so scared.
I didn't shoot anybody.
They can identify who the hell they want.
I'm just a poor old cripple, right?
It was the Security Police who had you committed, not me.
And they won't be putting all their cards on the table, oh, no.
You will remain their prime suspect for all those murders.
Ready?
Maybe I should say something.
But I don't think I have anything to say to you.
- That goes for me, too. - Let's get this over with.
I've nailed you, that's good enough for me. The cops will be here tonight.
Bullshit!
I expected some bluffing.
But you came here to kill me, and that's that.
- You haven't talked to anyone. - Can I show you something?
Everything you've said for the past hour has been broadcast online.
Let me see.
No.
Not possible with this.
Idiot!
What are you waiting for?
Head high, for Christ's sake.
I'm here.
Lisbeth...
Thanks for the update.