Solo - Steven Leach (Naat)

NYC, Summer 2025

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, New York City stirred to life with the energy of a new week. In the heart of Manhattan, the cityscape bustled with activity as the morning rush began.

On bustling sidewalks, a sea of commuters streamed out of subway stations and flooded the streets, their determined strides reflecting the urgency of Monday morning. Briefcases in hand and coffee cups in tow, they navigated the maze of skyscrapers with practiced efficiency, each person with their own destination and purpose.

In the Financial District, suited professionals hurried towards gleaming office towers, their minds already buzzing with meetings and deadlines. Traders glanced at their smartphones, tracking market trends, while analysts crunched numbers in their heads, preparing for the day's trading.

In Midtown, creative minds converged in sleek studio spaces and design firms, their imaginations ignited by the promise of new projects. Fashionistas clad in chic attire dashed to runway shows and photo shoots, their designs poised to captivate the world.

Meanwhile, in the bustling kitchens of restaurants and cafes, chefs and baristas orchestrated a symphony of flavors, preparing gourmet delights and artisanal brews to fuel the city's workforce. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of sizzling bacon, enticing passersby to indulge in a morning treat.

Amidst the chaos, street performers entertained the crowds with music and dance, their lively performances adding a touch of magic to the urban landscape. Tourists marveled at iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building and Times Square, capturing memories with every click of their cameras.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the heartbeat of New York City grew stronger, pulsing with the rhythm of countless lives intertwined in the fabric of the metropolis. And amidst the chaos and cacophony, the city's spirit remained unyielding, a testament to the resilience and vitality of the Big Apple on a bustling Monday morning.

Dani : " Good morning - When you get the chance, come by my office this morning. I have a couple of leads for you to investigate. "

Commuting to work proves uneventful, with the usual traffic jams easily navigated thanks to Steven's well-planned departure time. The reporters' floor of the office hums with activity, as it always does. Dani, a red-haired woman in her early forties, sits diligently in her office, her fingers flying across the keyboard of her laptop. While her appearance may be unassuming, Steven knows her to be one of the most knowledgeable individuals he's encountered. With a career that likely spans the globe, including perilous warzones in pursuit of compelling stories, Dani's expertise is undeniable.

"Good morning, right on time," Dani greets him as he enters her office.

"I'm heading into a meeting soon, but here's what I have for you," she says, handing him a page ripped from her notebook containing basic information.

- " There's a DJ named Connor Cummings who performs regularly at the Electric Labyrinth. One trustworthy source mentioned that he managed to produce a light show during his performances without the use of electricity. Apparently, someone unplugged his lighting gear and equipment, yet everything continued to function seamlessly.

To confirm this, I hired an expert in electronics Michael Clarke to intentionally shut down the power to his setup during one of his performances last week, and the lights still worked perfectly. The engineer's phone number is on the paper if you want to talk to him. "

She let him absorb the information for a moment.

- " I added you on the press list for Cumming's performance tonight at the Electric Labyrinth. I don't believe in magic, but his secret of how he is doing it might worth a good story. What do you think? " She doesn't know that Steven actually knows Connor. - " Regardless, this DJ is a rising personality in the showbiz, i'd like you to interview him. "

Steven's attention is drawn briefly to an impressive stack of document boxes tucked away in the corner of Dani's office. The label affixed to them reads "Marco 'The Hammer' Rossi"

She turns back to look at the boxes of documents, a somber expression crossing her features.

"Oh, that was one of my cases when I was your age," Dani begins, her voice tinged with gravity. "Marco, that scum, butchered a couple of people twenty years ago with a construction sledgehammer. But somehow he got away with only 20 years in prison because of supposed mitigating factors."

Dani lets out a long sigh, still troubled by the events of the past.

"He got released last week, so I retrieved those files from the archives to write an article. People shouldn't forget about this horrible event," she explains.

"The part that intrigues me is that his organization didn't seem to suffer during his time in prison. It's as if someone else were running things overnight. There was no fighting for succession, no noise, nothing. His business continued as best as I could find out. Or maybe he ran his crime family from prison, which is also possible," she muses, considering all the possibilities.

" There's a lot of gangs and crime families in NYC, but somehow there's not much gang wars, as if they have some kind of agreement going on since decades. The underworld is shrouded in mystery and all the actors are discreet and make huge profit from crime. "

"Throughout the 1970s, the city was embroiled in numerous gang wars that raged for nearly a decade," Dani began, her voice carrying a hint of gravitas.

"In 1985, the infamous Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino crime family, met his demise in a hail of gunfire," she continued, her tone betraying a mix of intrigue and caution.

"Since then, the once-dominant Italian mafia families—Bonnano, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese—have seen their influence wane," Dani elaborated, her words punctuated by a sense of history shifting.

"The void left by these families has been filled by minor gangs, bikers, and younger, more volatile groups," she explained, her eyes reflecting the complex dynamics at play in the city's underworld.

"The city has enjoyed relative peace since then," Dani acknowledged, her gaze steady and knowing.

"Yet, despite the apparent calm, I can't help but feel a sense of unease. In other words, it's too calm. " she admitted, her instincts as a journalist urging her to delve deeper into the shadows of the city.

"For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to uncovering the stories that lurk beneath the surface," Dani concluded, her voice tinged with a mix of determination and apprehension.

"I've got a few sources on the inside who believe something big is brewing. But even they're unsure about the specifics. The higher-ups in the underworld have tightened their grip and run a pretty tight ship these days," Dani explains with a grave tone.

"Right now, I need you to focus on DJ Nimbus. Make a good article out of it and after that I can fill you in on what I know about the mafia, but be warned—it's heavy reading," she continues, gesturing toward the boxes in the basement. "I've got files on dozens of people involved in the underworld, and delving into this could be dangerous. My advice? Don't touch this if you have close relatives or a girlfriend. Once you start poking around, and bother people with the truth, your loved one become targets. I learned that the hard way."

As Steven reflects, he realizes that Dani has been single for a long time, never married and without children.

"I'm counting on you to deliver a stellar article. I'll need the draft first thing tomorrow morning. We can't afford to lag behind, it will be old news 24hr following the show in this fast-paced online news cycle," Dani remarked.

"Mary's working on a piece about the surge in Frost Virus cases. Since you both have a competitive streak, let's see whose article garners the most attention on our VNET platform," Dani added with a hint of playful rivalry.