Read Online The Terrorists by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö - Free Book Online

his stomach and said, “As counsel for the prosecution has pointed out, a great many bank robberies occur in this country. The wide publicity they are given, as well as the often spectacular attempts of the police to stop them, have not only made the public prosecutor a famous man but have also caused a general hysteria.”
    Crasher paused and stood for a moment with his eyes on the floor, presumably trying to concentrate, then resumed.
    “Rebecka Lind has not had much help or joy from society. Neither school, nor her own parents, nor the older generation in general have on the whole offered her support or encouragement. That she has not bothered to involve herself in the present system of rule cannot be blamed on her. When, in contrast to many other young people, she tries to get work, she is told that there is none. I am tempted here to go into the reasons why there is no work for the younger generation, but I shall abstain.
    “At any rate, when she finally finds herself in a difficult situation, she turns to a bank. She has not the slightest idea of how a bank works, and is led to the mistaken conclusion that the PK Bank is less capitalistic, or that it is actually owned by the people.
    “When the bank teller catches sight of Rebecka, she at once thinks the girl has come to rob the bank, partly because she cannot understand what such a person would be doing in a bank, and partly because she is inflamed by the innumerable directives that have been heaped onto bank employees recently.She at once sounds the alarm and begins to put money into the bag the girl has placed on the counter. What happens then? Well, instead of one of the public prosecutor’s famous detectives, who have no time to bother with such futile little cases, along come two uniformed policemen in a patrol car. While one of them, according to his own words, leaps on the girl like a panther, the other manages to scatter the money all over the floor. Beyond this contribution, he also questions the teller. From this interrogation it appears that Rebecka did not threaten the bank staff at all and that she did not demand money. The whole matter can then be called a misunderstanding. The girl behaved naively, but, as you know, that is no crime.”
    Crasher limped over to his table, studied his papers, and with his back to the judge and jurymen said, “I ask that Rebecka Lind be released and that the charge against her be declared void. No other plea is possible, because anyone with any sense must see that she is not guilty and that there can be no question of any other verdict.”
    The court’s deliberations were quite brief. The result was announced in less than half an hour.
    Rebecka Lind was declared free and immediately released. On the other hand, the charges were not declared void, which meant that the prosecution could appeal the verdict. Five of the jurymen had voted for release and two against. The judge had recommended conviction.
    As they left the courtroom, Bulldozer Olsson came up to Martin Beck and Rhea and said, “You see? If you’d been a bit quicker, you’d have won that bottle of whisky.”
    “Are you going to appeal?”
    “No. Do you think I’ve nothing better to do than sit in the High Court for a whole day arguing the toss with Crasher? In a case like this?” He rushed away.
    Crasher also came up to them, limping worse than ever. “Thanks for coming,” he said. “Not many people would have done that.”
    “I thought I understood your train of thought,” said Martin Beck.
    “That’s what’s wrong,” said Braxén. “Lots of people understandone’s train of thought, but hardly anyone will come and support it.”
    Crasher looked thoughtfully at Rhea as he snipped off the top of his cigar.
    “I had an interesting and profitable conversation with Miss … Mrs.… this lady during the recess.”
    “Nielsen’s her name,” said Martin Beck. “Rhea Nielsen.”
    “Thank you,” said Crasher with a certain warmth.