Dignum had just finished his lunch and was now having a bad day. Ellerby had just come in, raging like a fire breathing pit bull terrier. Ellerby showed Dignum the Court Order for Sullivan's arrest and the supporting Court Proceedings. Two day's before, Ellerby had been rushing to the bedside of his most talented Staff Sergeant, someone who could replace Queenan, and now this ridiculous arrest warrant. Dignum was secretly elated, but just casually asked to see the documents. The charges of corruption and involvement in Queenan's murder, Dignum could believe. But murdering Costello? And what was this about removing evidence from the personnel files of BILLY COSTIGAN! Had Dignum been off the ball!
Dignum read through the Court Proceedings, as Ellerby continued to rage. The allegations seemed extreme, but Dignum, though he disliked Billy because of Billy's personality and background and, illogically, Dignum even despised Billy for being a snitch, knew that Billy had never lied and was, in is own way, quite reliable. In fact Dignum knew that few could have worked in Costello's gang and got away with it. Dignum needed to hear the CD. Everything else could be true. And if the FBI had been protecting Costello it was only a matter of time before they would interfere with the proceedings. And Dignum had dropped the ball. Dignum had to act fast; check Queenan's office for evidence and secure the documents that dealt with Billy's false conviction. But Dignum also needed to keep his powder very dry; apart from the possibility of widespread corruption, Sullivan had been the apple of Ellerby's eye, and Ellerby's judgement was seriously flawed.
Cautiously Dignum told Ellerby, "You need to open Queenan's files and see if Costigan's records have been tampered with".
Ellerby was shocked "You mean that that low life thug works for us!".
"Yes" Dignum casually replied, "Everything he says about himself is correct". Dignum had not really wanted to stick his neck out and say that Billy was a cop, but that would need to be established for Sullivan's trial. But otherwise, Dignum felt that it was safer to say as little as possible and keep possible enemies, and a biased Ellerby, guessing.
They went to Queenan's Office and Ellerby opened the files. No trace of Costigan's entry.
Dignum asked, "Have you given Sullivan access to these files?".
"Yes" replied Ellerby, "but ... apart from your testimony is there anything that would support the claim that Costigan is a cop?".
"I don't know" lied Dignum, "I will have to check and let you know. There's still a few days to the retrial".
With Ellerby gone, Dignum soon located the FBI report. Locating the film negatives and the undercover agreement documents that Billy had signed took longer. Dignum photocopied the documents and placed the copies back in Queenan's file's. Then Dignum arranged with a technician to have the film negatives duplicated and more pictures developed. An hour later Dignum was able to make a second FBI document set made up. Only when the duplicate copies were back in Queenan's office did Dignum think to check Queenan's diary, and found an entry that correlated Billy with the report, which added credence to Billy's testimony.
Dignum phoned Ellerby to confirm that Queenan had filmed Costello having dealings with known FBI operatives and that Costigan had supplied the initial information. It was not much in the way of proof, but it was enough to make the claim of FBI corruption credible. Dignum didn't mention that he was keeping the original copies, or anything about Costigan's false conviction. Dignum was going to have to visit a certain court official to ensure that Costigan's false conviction documents were protected and that the false conviction could be overturned on demand, before Sullivan's trial. Dignum now realised that a new broom might be needed in the SIU, Sullivan had many "admirers", and who knows, maybe there was more corruption, or at least sloppy practice, than a little. Costigan might be a rubbish cop, but he might make Dignum an excellent rat catcher. First however, tomorrow, Dignum needed to visit the Court, perhaps not with Ellerby, and checkout Costigan's CD and other evidence.