Billy's police reception with the cuffed and bloody Sullivan was not well received, even when the duplicate CD that he had hidden in his jacket was played. There was profound shock throughout the Precinct, as Sullivan was totally trusted. The disbelief was so great that Billy got slung in the cells while Sullivan was left to excuse himself out of the mess. Billy was left with the definite impression that Sullivan's unfrocking was not going to win Billy any friends in some quarters. Talking to the guards also revealed that was also a pro Sullivan clique.
Ellerby had taken it badly when the CD was played. Ellerby would look like a fool trusting Sullivan, and once Billy was questioned about Queenan's death and how Sullivan had run Billy, there were real questions to be answered about how the Precinct HQ was run. Also, like Queenan, Ellerby was loyal to his men and so couldn't easily cope with the news. The papers would have a thanksgiving party at police expense, so Ellerby had gone into purder.
Then Dignum found that Billy's staff record had "evaporated" from the staff database. Some thought that this could create real problems both for Ellerby and Sullivan's prosecution.
The next day, Billy was brought up from the cells and released by Ellerby. Ellerby made it clear that he could not justify holding Billy, even though Sullivan was (only) suspended and not formally charged, yet. Dignam would massage Billy's police record and a police tail would be put on Billy, partly to protect Billy and partly to stop Billy going after Sullivan again.
