Kowalski didn't want to say no to a guy who needed some help, but he didn't want to say yes and get in trouble, either. So he sidestepped the decision: "I'll have to ask my boss. Hang on." He put the phone down, and Danny could hear him pick up another phone, put in the call, and explain the request. Kowalski then did something unexplainable: He actually vouched for the man using the name Bob Billings. "I know him," he told his manager. "He works for Ed Trenton. Can we let him use the Secure ID in the Computer Center?" Danny, holding on to the phone, was amazed to overhear this extraordinary and unexpected support for his cause. He couldn't believe his ears or his luck.