Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, The - Stieg Larsson [157]
Blomkvist waited.
“The defector had operated in other countries and knew nothing about Sweden, so he was never a major factor for security policy. I informed the Prime Minister on a couple of occasions, but there was never very much to report.”
“I see.”
“They always said that he was being handled in the customary way and that the information he provided was being processed through the appropriate channels. What could I say? If I asked what it meant, they smiled and said that it was outside my security clearance level. I felt like an idiot.”
“You never considered the fact that there might be something wrong with the arrangement?”
“No. There was nothing wrong with the arrangement. I took it for granted that Säpo knew what they were doing and had the appropriate routines and experience. But I can’t talk about this.”
Janeryd had by this time been talking about it for several minutes.
“O.K…. but all this is beside the point. Only one thing is important right now.”
“What?”
“The names of the individuals you had your meetings with.”
Janeryd gave Blomkvist a puzzled look.
“The people who were looking after Zalachenko went far beyond their jurisdiction. They’ve committed serious criminal acts and they’ll be the object of a preliminary investigation. That’s why Fälldin sent me to see you. He doesn’t know who they are. You were the one who met them.”
Janeryd blinked and pressed his lips together.
“One was Evert Gullberg … he was the top man.”
Janeryd nodded.
“How many times did you meet him?”
“He was at every meeting except one. There were about ten meetings during the time Fälldin was Prime Minister.”
“Where did you meet?”
“In the lobby of some hotel. Usually the Sheraton. Once at the Amaranth on Kungsholmen and sometimes at the Continental pub.”
“And who else was at the meetings?”
“It was a long time ago … I don’t remember.”
“Try.”
“There was a … Clinton. Like the American president.”
“First name?”
“Fredrik. I saw him four or five times.”
“Others?”
“Hans von Rottinger. I knew him through my mother.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes, my mother knew the von Rottinger family. Hans von Rottinger was always a pleasant chap. Before he turned up out of the blue at a meeting with Gullberg, I had no idea that he worked for Säpo.”
“He didn’t,” Blomkvist said.
Janeryd turned pale.
“He worked for something called the Section for Special Analysis,” Blomkvist said. “What were you told about that group?”
“Nothing. I mean, just that they were the ones who took care of the defector.”
“Right. But isn’t it strange that they don’t appear anywhere in Säpo’s organizational chart?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It is, isn’t it? So how did they set up the meetings? Did they call you, or did you call them?”
“Neither. The time and place for each meeting was set at the preceding one.”
“What happened if you needed to get in contact with them? For instance, to change the time of a meeting or something like that?”
“I had a number to call.”
“What was the number?”
“I couldn’t possibly remember.”
“Who answered if you called the number?”
“I don’t know. I never used it.”
“Next question. Who did you hand everything over to?”
“How do you mean?”
“When Fälldin’s term came to an end. Who took your place?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you write a report?”
“No. Everything was classified. I couldn’t even take notes.”
“And you never briefed your successor?”
“No.”
“So what happened?”
“Well … Fälldin left office, and Ola Ullsten came in. I was told that we would have to wait until after the next election. Then Fälldin was re-elected and our meetings were resumed. Then came the election in 1985. The Social Democrats won, and I assume that Palme appointed somebody to take over from me. I transferred to the foreign ministry and became a diplomat. I was posted