Ambrose Sinclair steadied his stance and lined up the three-metre putt. He knew it would break a small amount to the right, which he put down to the settling of the building over time. Several years ago, he’d replaced the thick plush carpet of his office for a short-looped Berber, which better replicated the speed of the greens at Royal Melbourne.
With a smooth rocking motion of his shoulders he drew back his putter before bringing it forward to meet the ball. An instant before impact the electronic beep of his intercom system shattered both his concentration and rhythm. The ball slid by the left edge of the cup.
Sinclair rested the club against the credenza behind his desk and pressed the intercom button on his phone.
Yes, Maggie. What is it?
Mr Sinclair, I have Mr Hughes from ASN Technologies holding for you. He said it was urgent.
Alfonso Hughes gave birth to ASN Technologies in 1995 and for the past 20 years nurtured its development into the pre-eminent cyber security company in Australia. As well as Alfonso being a client of Williams & Teacher, his firm oversaw the computer protection systems for their Melbourne office.
Sinclair propped on the edge of his desk and punched the blinking light, his left leg swinging with nervous tension. An urgent call from Alfonso was exceedingly rare and, from experience, rarely a pleasant conversation.
Alfonso, how can I help you?
Good morning, Ambrose. And it is hopefully I that can help you. We’ve uncovered some unusual activity.
Fifteen minutes later, Ambrose silently hung up the phone. Then he began pacing. From his desk, to the bookcase bursting with law tomes, and back. Five steps in either direction. And with each change of direction, his course of action became just a little clearer. His premonition from a few days earlier regrettably coming to pass. The small nagging kernel of doubt in the back of his mind suddenly bursting into a full-on migraine. His firm was under attack. And the immediate question demanding an answer; were the hackers getting help from the inside?
Alfonso’s firm set in motion a program designed to tunnel back through cyberspace to track the perpetrators. ‘But don’t expect success,’ he was told, ‘especially if the hackers are as professional as they first appear.’ ASN were also conducting a full investigation of the associate with the compromised workstation.
In the meantime, Ambrose had a decision to make. He could sit back and wait for the results of the investigation, or he could shake a few trees and see what fell in his lap. For Ambrose, this wasn’t even a question worth pondering. Sitting and waiting was not now, nor would it ever be, something for which he’d be known.
From behind his desk he retrieved his putter before depressing the intercom button one more time.
Ambrose decided a quick four or five putts would help him relax and get him in the right frame of mind for the upcoming conversation. He positioned the ball mid-point in his stance, eyed the cup, then smoothly swung through the desired line. The electronic cup swallowed his direct hit then spat back the ball.
Each made putt released a further ounce or two of tension from his shoulders. Ambrose knew from experience, a relaxed body and mind energised his thought processes, which led to concise questioning and deft decision making.
However, with O’Neal’s innocence or complicity still to be determined, Ambrose wouldn’t be allowing the solicitor the luxury of a few practice swings.