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Daily Chronicle @DailyChronicle

TV star’s ‘killer’ shot dead in US. Two more suspects arrested in Scotland after one man killed and woman seriously injured.

It was certainly a headline that caught the attention of both the dwindling newspaper-buying world and the Twitterati. Tom O’Neill’s death had already become worldwide news, but the information on the agencies and news sites was sketchy at best.

That wasn’t the case for the Daily Chronicle. They reported that the radio DJ Lacey Lanning had been found gravely wounded while a freelance Daily Chronicle photographer was discovered dead at a remote Highland chalet. What’s more, Bryce Horrigan’s ex-fiancée and her mother had been arrested at the scene.

From the other side of the Atlantic, Connor Presley reported how he had found himself in the middle of such dramatic events, managing to capture a full confession on his phone from Tom O’Neill before Bryce Horrigan’s deputy had been shot dead. There were even some glowing quotes from the publicity-reluctant Captain Bernard Sorrell, praising Connor Presley’s bravery and assistance in the conclusion of Horrigan’s homicide case. The report also contained a first-person piece by Connor, who painted the shoot-out scene like a movie finale. It led to dozens of requests for interviews pouring in to his newspaper’s offices from media outlets across the UK and US. Even a Japanese TV crew wanted to speak to the Scots ‘hero’ for their news feed. Then there were the publishing houses, desperate to do book deals.

‘I feel like I’ve gone over to the other side – being interviewed instead of asking the questions,’ he told April as he was getting ready to head for Marshall Airport to catch the first of his flights back home.

‘Well, maybe you have. You going to write the book about it, then? It’d be a bestseller,’ April said through her customary mouthful of food.

‘Only if you write it with me. It needs the Scottish half of the story too, and that’s all down to you.’

‘Oh gosh, yes. My dream come true – to finally be a published author. Should have done it years ago when I was your age, when I still had the energy.’

Connor caught sight of himself in his room’s mirror before he left. He looked wiped out, with grey skin and bags under his eyes. ‘Energy?’ he laughed. ‘If only you could see me now. Anyway, I’m off to the airport to see if my newfound celebrity status extends to getting an upgrade.’