Things were just going down hill for Billy. First, because of cell phone area problems, he had failed to contact Queenan to tell him how desperate the situation was. Then the next day he had a sense of being followed, so had not dared to try and contact Queenan again. Then this morning a bunch of cops broke into his house with an arrest warrant and dragged him of to the SIU cells.

Now this creep, Sullivan, tells him that if he does not co-operate and admit to all the charges, they will tell the FBI that they now have him.

So, the FBI. Costello must have sold him out. Why? Was that why Costello had asked Billy about being able to run the business? It could be that Costello saw Billy as a potential threat and had decided to profit from getting rid of Billy. He had to get into contact with Queenan, or Dignum, without breaking cover, but how?

Then Sullivan did something odd. After a confab with his group, he came into the interrogation room, gave Billy a phone, and gesturing at the camera/mike, said that Billy should phone his mom. The camera/mike was clearly switched off!

Billy (silently) gasped. Was this some kind of ploy, or was Sullivan trying to help him, which meant ... Billy decided to be cautious, and procrastinate a little, playing on what he already knew.

"It won't work. Mother might have helped me once but not now"

"Why", Sullivan was baffled by this response. When he had done this with the other gang member that they had arrested there had been no problem. "The FBI want you, so why don't you want to phone home?"

"OK" Billy replied rather quietly, "You needn't admit anything, but I think I know who you are and you could soon be in the same mess I am now in. We can help one another"

Sullivan was genuinely baffled "So?"

"Ok, listen. Costello is starting to see me as a threat. But I know something about him, something that could get me killed, and it's something that you need to know. With it you can protect your self, and protect me."

Sullivan was cautious "Like what?"

"I will tell you what it is. You tell your bosses about it. In return they protect me from Costello and the Feds". "Then I work for you" was not something Billy though safe to add, yet.

"OK, deal" replied Sullivan.

"I first heard a rumour that Costello was talking to the Feds. I followed it up, spied on him. He sells info about his rivals and the mob to the Feds. I'm fairly sure that he's become a protected FBI informant, and that he's sold me out. You tell your bosses about this. Keep Costello and the Feds off my back and I tell you what else I know, I might even be able to get more specific intel for you on who he sold out". This was both true and false. Billy suddenly thought of the joint Police FBI operation that had been compromised, Costello must have known about it well in advance.

Sullivan though it over; there was certainly no risk to him and there were obvious benefits for both of them. Was Costello such a Judas. Deep down Sullivan knew that the answer was yes. This was dynamite if true. "OK, I'll talk to Captain Ellerby"

Billy had no idea who Ellerby was; he would have to remain cautious.