A week later, Billy picked up Maddy from work and brought her home, along with some more of her stuff. Once home Billy said "Lets just get the movers in to get your stuff from Sullivan's flat". He cuddled Maddy. Billy hadn't had to arm twist the detention guards, a session with an enraged Sullivan regarding the baby's parentage had revealed all. Maddy was going to need a long time to forgive Sullivan, though she would visit him in prison. Maybe Billy would as well ...
However, prison might not be on the cards. Today, an enraged Dignum had revealed that the unthinkable might well occur. Because of various high level machinations, Sullivan's spin, and Costello's lawyer being able to change a leopard's spots, the prosecution's case was being weakened. Also, Billy and others had found from Costelo's documents and recordings that Brannigan had also worked for Costello, and that many lesser, often unnamed, cops had taken bribes, either "innocently" for a beer, or corruptly for cash, so a Sullivan prosecution was lacking credibility since the SIU was looking like a right Aegean Stables. And some politicians clearly had skeletons in their cupboards, so would create trouble in order to secure Sullivan as an ally. At any trial, the press and corrupt ( or own agenda ) politicians would have a field day at police expense.
So Sullivan would most likely escape with a demotion back to Sergeant, if not Trooper. Billy had guessed that Sullivan's rapid rise was due to info from Costello, but it would take time to prove it, even where it could be proved that only Costello could be the source.
However, Billy had got some satisfaction from the news that Dignum had got Ellerby to agree that Sullivan must treat Billy as Acting Sergeant if Sullivan retained Sergeant's rank. Billy might have to endure Dignam's crap, but Billy would not have to put up with Sullivan's smirks and scheming.
