Acknowledgements

MY THANKS to all those who advised and guided me in the writing of this novel. They include close-protection specialist, AFP Federal Agent Vince Parnell; the former head of ACT policing, Detective Superintendent Ray Sweeney; the senior Crown prosecutor for NSW, Mark Tedeschi QC; the director of the National Institute of Forensic Science, Dr Tony Raymond; the senior instructor in Military Self-Defence and Close Quarter Fighting at ADFA, Warrant Officer Anthony Berne; the dean of the ANU College of Business and Economics, and professor of business administration at the ANU, Professor Keith Houghton; the political editor of The Canberra Times, Ross Peake; and ABC political reporter Alex Kirk.

Special thank to my agent, John Timlin, for believing in this book. And to my publisher and editor, Henry Rosenbloom, who seamlessly smoothed the text and taught me to value omissions. And to my good friend and writing mentor Kel Robertson, whose insights and input helped me keep my chins up in the hard times. And, finally, my love and thanks to my wife, Claire Tedeschi, without whose encouragement and support this novel would never have been.