pte

ra's

an you can't co

dy night was horrible, the nightmare I had about Julian and the confrontation,

eone else, but I won't be doing it. It's too dangerous." I an

he was turning red with anger, and

up with a hot, new, trending, and juicy gossip to cover." He

d "I wou

"or you are fired! Now, if you would please e

was shocked, then I could feel my anxi

ity, turning back my attention to Marlene wit

n I heard him say "Remember a hot

nd me. Everyone in the office turned their attention to m

is toxic environment...." I said

n the office slid into my cor

!" I

horrible! He didn't let you d

n a new, hot scope by tomorrow or I'm fired!" I slumped back i

ck! That's not fair! It's normal to drop a stor

to prove to him that he can't get rid of me like that

kpack with my camera, recorder,

you find a hot scope by tomorrow morning? It's alre

d, nothing having a single clue

tay in the office for a new hot go

ou now, I still have a lot of proofreading to do, oka

urned to leave. I picked up my ba

yone bully me

of New York in the hope of a bright st

weaved in and out of each other's paths, and the constant hum of conversations and footsteps filled the air. Normally, I

n into me. As I sipped the bitter drink, my mind raced. What was I even looking for? A scandal? A mystery? A quirky human

, earning a curious glance from the man nex

d gathered near an alley, their faces filled with concern and curiosity. My journalist insti

ked a woman standing at

someone, I think," she

officers were cordoning off the area, and beyond the yellow tape, I could see a figure lying motio

step back," one of the officers

e snapping a quick photo of the scene with m

ead: Where would you find a

Righ

s of the bystanders, the positioning of the body, the murmurs of speculation. Was this a mu

he is?" someone i

officers replied. "We'

I could without drawing too much attention to myself. Then,

s it. M

t-I needed more. A nameless victim and a vag

my phone, I

ot something," she said

potential crime scene-someone found i

rious. Do you th

s, what happened, why it happened. Something that'l

oment. "Aurora, be caref

ly, cutting her off. "I have

walking again. If I wanted answers, I'd have to f

omach churn, but I kne

ckering neon sign. It wasn't much to look at, but it was the kind

d him-a man in his late forties, with a grizzled b

aid as I approa