How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Connolly, properly obsequious to a neighborhood elder who was also an icon, made his offer: "You should think about using your friends in law enforcement." (1.1.11)
Does this seem like the right way for an FBI agent to deal with a known gangster? Does being a "friend" to a crime lord count as a justified use of federal power? If you answered "yes" to either one of these questions, then you might be John Connolly. Hiya John.
Quote #2
At once [Billy] was a petty despot and a masterful conciliator, [...] a puckish public performer who had a dark side and took all slights personally. (1.2.21)
Whitey isn't the only bigwig Bulger bossing it up in Boston—there's also brother Billy, state senator and grouch extraordinaire. Despite being more "legit" than his big bro, Billy is just as willing to throw his weight around to get what he wants. They call that Bulger style.
Quote #3
Like a drug, their ties to Bulger and Flemmi had evolved into a dependency that was hardening quickly into an addiction. (1.5.89)
The FBI's relationship with Bulger and Flemmi certainly has its benefits. It gives the FBI a leg up in the mob, and Flemmi's intel helps them break several major cases. But there's a downside: the longer they're together, the more Bulger dominates the relationship.