We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

The Girl Who Played With Fire Chapter 15 Summary

How It All Goes Down

Maundy Thursday, March 24

  • Bublanski, Faste, and Prosecutor Ekström meet.
  • Bublanski tells Ekström that they believe Miriam Wu lives in the apartment, not Salander.
  • Miriam Wu doesn't have a police record. But, Faste tells Ekström he thinks Miriam might be a prostitute, because of the erotic clothing and sex toys in the apartment.
  • Ekström says that Salander's social welfare files indicate she might have been involved in prostitution. Bublanski says these claims have never been investigated by the police.
  • Ekström says that since Mia's thesis concerns sex trafficking, maybe Salander and Miriam were threatened by their research and killed Dag and Mia to quiet them.
  • Bublanski says there's no evidence to back up that theory. The important thing is to find the two women. That evening, Bublanski and Ekström give a press conference.
  • Ekström, who loves playing to the media for publicity, reveals that Salander is the prime suspect in the three murders.
  • It's also revealed that Salander was in a psychiatric clinic, and that she's "prone to violence in stressful situations" (15.108).
  • Bublanski and Modig are at Bjurman's apartment, investigating that crime scene.
  • Bublanski tells Modig that he isn't convinced that Salander is the killer. He can't see the motive.
  • Gunnar Samuelsson, on the forensics team, asks Bublanski and Modig to come look at Bjurman's body.
  • He shows them Bjurman's tattoo that says "I AM A SADISTIC PIG, A PERVERT, AND A RAPIST" (15.156). Modig wonders if this might suggest a motive.
  • Blomkvist is at home. He's exhausted and hasn't slept for thirty-six hours.
  • He realizes he knows even less about Salander than he'd thought.
  • He decides to give her the benefit of the doubt. He can't assume she's a murderer so easily.
  • Finally, he falls into a hard sleep.