to people who did simple thing like lie to him. He watched people die for nothing but Schultzs suspicion that they might back stab him. For Billy to sleep with Dutch Schultzs woman shows that he is both brave and courageous. Billy was beyond well aware of what Schultz was capable of because he has seen it with his own eyes. Billy was also well aware that the gang leader would not even think twice about killing someone who was disrespectful enough to sleep with his woman. Despite all that, Billy continued to do things as he pleased and not get caught. In a way, one could say that he learned all these unadmirable characteristics by none other than Dutch Schultz himself. His mentor taught him everything that he knew. On the other hand, Billy was also well aware that Dutch Schultz would not allow anyone to disrespect him and continue to breath on his own. Towards the end of the book, Billy becomes aware of Schultzs plan to kill his woman because she was a witness to the murder of Bo Wienberg who was her last lover. Billy heard this by ease dropping on one of Schultzs conversations that was not intended for Billys ears. Billy was also trusted by Schultz to watch over Ms. Preston because he was only fifteen. Schultz would have never thought that the two of them would have a love affair. Because Billy promised Bo Wienberg that he would watch over her, he spoke with her homosexual husband and had her whisked away before Schultz had a chance to have her killed. This is yet another prime example of his disloyalty to Dutch Schultz, and his bravery despite what could have happened to him. All of these action also show that Billy is Sneaky no matter what the consequence may be. Lets face it, despite all these actions, Billy never gets caught. I feel that E. L. Doctorow does an extremely impressive job in creating characterization that keeps the reader so eager to anticipate what Billys next move is that when they fall asleep with the book on...
