On day three, things started to turn around. First, the police released a statement saying that the investigation against Johan Andersson had been put to rest. The man who had given a total of just over one million kronor was indeed a known criminal, but he had paid for his crimes and owed no money to the authorities. Furthermore, no third party had professed a claim on the money, and the bills could not be traced to any previous crime. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army could once again take possession of the gifts of 475,000 and 560,000 kronor respectively. It is not illegal even for murderers to give away money left and right.
To be sure, some witness statements mentioned that Johan Andersson had acted threateningly, or had at least looked threatening. But in opposition to this, there was the Salvationist’s stubborn view, namely that Hitman Anders had beautiful eyes and that a heart of gold must beat inside him. She refused to take his “Rest in peace,” given in farewell, as a threat. The investigator in charge muttered to himself that she was probably right not to and closed the case.
“Rest in peace yourself,” he said to the investigation materials, then stuck them into the archive for closed cases in the basement of the police station.
During those same three days, someone had managed to start a support page in Hitman Anders’s name on Facebook. After twenty-four hours, it had twelve members. After forty-eight, 69,000. And before it was time for lunch on day three, it had surpassed a million.
The general public must have figured out what was going on at around the same time as the tabloids Expressen and Aftonbladet did. Namely, the following:
A murderer had encountered Jesus and, as a result, tricked the underworld out of money in order to give to those in need. Like Robin Hood, only better, was the sudden opinion of an entire nation (minus a count, a countess, and a few others in the darkest corners of Stockholm and its immediate surroundings). A miracle of God! was the opinion of a number of the religiously inclined, enough to lead to the creation of a corresponding Facebook movement with Biblical overtones.
And, furthermore, during a live television gala broadcast, Her Majesty the Queen happened to say, “I think the man with the terrible nickname has shown courage, strength, and generosity. I hope that in his future endeavors he spares an extra thought for vulnerable children.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” said the receptionist, when the priest told him that the wife of the head of state had indirectly asked Hitman Anders to send half a million kronor to Save the Children or her own World Childhood Foundation.
“Would you look at that?” said Hitman Anders to the priest. “To think I went and got royally addressed. Well, as we know, the ways of the Lord are unfathom—What was it again?”
“—able,” said the priest. “Now get into the camper, you two. We’re leaving.”
“Where are we going?” asked the receptionist.
“No idea,” said the priest.
“Maybe we’d be welcome in the palace,” Hitman Anders mused. “I’m sure they have plenty of free rooms.”