The Girl Who Played With Fire

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, rape, child abuse, physical abuse, gender discrimination, and cursing.

Blomkvist meets with Bjorck, who wants anonymity in exchange for information on Zala. Blomkvist agrees, knowing that Dag’s book will still include Bjorck.

The police respond to reports of a shot by Bjurman’s cabin and find Nieminen trying to flee. He collides with a police van and has the logo cut out of his vest. Bublanski sends Holmberg to assist. Holmberg concludes that the attacker stole a motorcycle and a weapon from Lundin and Nieminen, and he sends officers to search for an abandoned vehicle. Holmberg finds Bjurman’s files inside the cabin. A witness reports a woman going to Bjurman’s cabin, then two bikers, then the woman on a motorcycle leaving. Holmberg reports to Bublanski that Lisbeth beat up the two bikers.

Lisbeth relishes riding the motorcycle up the highway. She then dumps it and takes the train back home.

Bjorck details Alexander Zalachenko’s life. Zala was an orphan during World War II, during which time he was trained to become a spy with the GRU special forces. He was a top agent until he failed a mission in 1976, which led him to defect to Sweden.