Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, The - Stieg Larsson [277]
“I didn’t report anyone.”
“No. But it’s obvious that there has been gross dereliction of duty. You’re not the only person affected.”
Salander shrugged. “This has nothing to do with me. But I promise to be in closer contact with you. These last two weeks have been an exception. I’ve been working.”
Giannini did not look as though she believed her. “What are you working on?”
“Consulting.”
“I see,” she said. “The other thing is that the inventory of the estate is now ready.”
“Inventory of what estate?”
“Your father’s. The state’s legal representative contacted me since nobody seemed to know how to get in touch with you. You and your sister are the sole heirs.”
Salander looked at Giannini blankly. Then she caught the waitress’s eye and pointed at her glass.
“I don’t want any inheritance from my father. Do whatever the hell you want with it.”
“Wrong. You can do what you want with the inheritance. My job is to see to it that you have the opportunity to do so.”
“I don’t want a single öre from that pig.”
“Then give the money to Greenpeace or something.”
“I don’t give a shit about whales.”
Giannini’s voice suddenly softened. “Lisbeth, if you’re going to be a legally responsible citizen, then you’re going to have to start behaving like one. I don’t give a damn what you do with your money. Just sign here that you received it, and then you can get drunk in peace.”
Salander glanced at her and then looked down at the table. Annika assumed this was some kind of conciliatory gesture that perhaps corresponded to an apology in Salander’s limited register of expressions.
“What kind of figures are we talking about?”
“They’re not insignificant. Your father had about 300,000 kronor in shares. The property in Gosseberga would sell for around 1.5 million – there’s a little woodland included. And there are three other properties.”
“What sort of properties?”
“It seems that he invested a significant amount of money. There’s nothing of enormous value, but he owns a small building in Udderalla with six apartments, and they bring in some income. But the property is not in good shape. He didn’t bother with upkeep and the apartments have even been up before the rental board. You won’t get rich, but you’d get a good price if you sold it. He also owns a summer cabin in Småland that’s worth around 250,000 kronor. Plus he owns a dilapidated industrial site outside Norrtälje.”
“Why in the world did he buy all this shit?”
“I have no idea. But the estate could bring in over four million kronor after taxes etc., but…”
“But what?”
“The inheritance has to be divided equally between you and your sister. The problem is that nobody knows where your sister is.”
Salander looked at Giannini in silence.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Where is your sister?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t seen her for ten years.”
“Her file is classified, but I found out that she is listed as out of the country.”
“I see,” Salander said, showing little interest.
Giannini sighed in exasperation.
“I would suggest that we liquidate all the assets and deposit half the proceeds in the bank until your sister can be found. I can initiate the negotiations if you give me the go-ahead.”
Salander shrugged. “I don’t want anything to do with his money.”
“I understand that. But the balance sheet still has to be sorted out. It’s part of your responsibility as a citizen.”
“Sell the crap, then. Put half in the bank and send the rest to whoever you like.”
Giannini stared at her. She had understood that Salander had money stashed away, but she had not realized that her client was so well off that she could ignore an inheritance that might amount to a million kronor or more. What is more, she had no idea where Salander had got her money, or how much was involved. On the other hand she was keen to finalize the bureaucratic procedure.
“Lisbeth, please … could you read through the estate inventory and give me the green light so that we can get this matter resolved?”
Salander grumbled for a moment, but finally she acquiesced and stuffed the folder into her shoulder bag.