The Western Observer – Issue 3
Chief Editor – Morrissey

NEW YORK GUNFIGHT: BIG APPLE FEELS WINTERS BITE
By Morrissey

New York became the scene for a frenzied gunfight last night as bullets blazed across the snowy streets. It is reported that New York Made Man, Edmund Baggio had been in verbal disagreement with Detroit Made Man Mold, for quite some time. Tensions had escalated and the time for talk was over, as Mold jumped on a train to New York from Detroit to resolve the issue by the pistol.

Edmund Baggio was enjoying a drink in his own ‘Baggio Club’ in New York, as word spread that Mold had arrived via train and was quickly making his way to the club. The two Made Men squared up to each other out front of Baggio’s club as the Christmas crowds stood back aghast.

Mold’s bullets found their target, as Edmund fell face first into the snowy New York gutter. Several attempts to resuscitate Edmund Baggio failed as an off duty doctor stepped forward from the crowd to help.

Mold’s victory was short lived as New York Wise Guy Antonio Pistone, raced through the ever-increasing snowfall, to avenge his fallen brother. Antonio did not hesitate as he shot dead one of Mold’s bodyguards and turned his cold steel pistol on Mold himself. Mold soon slumped to the floor gurgling blood as Pistone stood over him.

It is unclear exactly what happened next or the reason why, but minutes later Detroit Made Man, Ray Scaponi, arrived at the murder scene. It is clear that he had murder in mind as he sent bullets flying through the blizzards, heading for Antonio Pistone. Standing beside his brother, New York Made Man, Flawless, was next to take up his arms and return fire on the Detroit Made. A bodyguard fell, before Scaponi himself was sent crashing to the floor, sending the white snow around his body a deep scarlet red.

As the snow continues to fall on a shivering New York morning, it is not known if last nights actions will lead to full-scale war between the two super powers that are Detroit and New York, or if peace can be agreed. Although, it’s led to be believed, that Detroit has shown disapproval towards Mold and Scaponi’s actions, as of yet no statement has been released by either family.


EXCLUSIVE: DON EZIO’S MURDERER UNCOVERED
By Ed O’Brien

Three weeks after Don Ezio’s death, it is reported that he was murdered by one of his own family members, Boss Basil Fawlty. It also appears that Basil admitted to the murder in several journals that were discovered at his home after his own death only days ago. The journals tell the story of a somewhat troubled man as he tried to make sense of his own murderous actions. Serial killer or businessman, we’ll let the reader decide as we publish highlights from the journal later in this issue.


LAS VEGAS MELTDOWN: CITY LEFT LEADERLESS
By Matt Schulz

After a quiet few weeks on the strip, it wasn’t long before trouble broke out again as Las Vegas Capo Guido was shot down in Chicago by former Las Vegas Boss, Temperance. It is reported that Temperance took refuge in New York and joined ‘The Appleseeders’ ran by Joey Cusack after the collapse of Don Ezio’s empire in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Capo Lakai, was next to fall as Temperance flew to Las Vegas from Chicago. Lakai was in his favourite Pizza Parlour out on the strip as Temperance entered and opened fire. Lakai died at the scene with multiple gunshots to the back and was found faced down in his favourite deep pan meat feast.

It is reported that Las Vegas crime Boss, Basil Fawlty decided to move his family back home to Detroit and the ‘Black Bottom Crew’ to prevent further deaths as a murderer was obviously on the loose and out for revenge.

Basil was later found dead at his Detroit apartment with Temperance claiming the kill. Detroit did not sit back on the issue, with family head and Consigliere Big Black immediately seeking his own revenge for the murder of Fawlty.

Big Black headed to Chicago on the mid-day train from Detroit to ‘take care’ of business. Temperance was no match for Black as he quickly picked off several of her faithful bodyguards. No mercy was shown as his bullets found their target and Temperance’s body fell onto a cold sidewalk in Chicago.


EXCLUSIVE: THE MEMOIRS OF BASIL FAWLTY
Edited by Morrissey

With thanks to Leon Gants for bringing these memoirs to our attention.

‘My name is Basil Fawlty and this is my life in my own words. If anyone ever gets to read this, please read without being biased. I am a simple man, born in Detroit. This is the truth, from my heart.’

October 11th – ‘After several conversations with Consigliere Ezio, I’ve decided to join his family in Las Vegas named ‘We The People’. I’ve managed to make a little extra cash at the horse track with the $23 dollars my uncle left me, so hopped on a plane from Detroit to Las Vegas via Dallas to join him.

I arrived in Las Vegas and was immediately greeted at the airport by Saul Battaglia. He said he would show me the ropes in the family and watch my back while I earned respect. His pistol expertise was shown to me as soon as we left the airport when he shot a guy dead who tried to steal my case. We jumped in his car and headed for the family Headquarters, where I would encompass my first handshake with Ezio.

The strip was electric, gamblers and partygoers filled the streets and made me feel welcome as I walked beside Saul to the family HQ. I like this, I want some more of it. Ezio greeted me with a handshake, handed me a black leather briefcase and sat back in his chair. He outstretched a hand, signalling for me to open the case. It contained my first ever pistol. Ezio then told me he saw potential in me and would like me to work hard to be part of the family.

My ancestors have always told me about how great the West was, Las Vegas in particular. I want to make this place my home. I’m setting myself the target to get Made Man in this family, I want the power. My plan is to gain the families respect and make it my own. I’m going to gain trust, respect, power and then I’m going to kill Ezio and take Las Vegas as my own.’

October 12th – ‘Just made Goomba today as Ezio decided I was ready for my first step into being part of his flourishing crime network. I think he likes me and I respect him. I travelled with him to Los Angeles this afternoon on business. Once we got there he handed me a case containing 37 guns while he visited a friend in LA prison. I nearly ran with the guns, thinking I could make a nice packet with them but decided against it, I don’t think I would be alive long if I did, I need this guy to trust me.

Evening came in Los Angeles and I met up with Ezio to give him his case back. He thanked me and decided it was time for me to train my gun, he wanted a guy taking out. Seems his prison visit threw up this guys name who had doubled crossed someone in our family. Ezio gave me 5 bullets and I did the job on the final one. If only he realized that he was training me up to kill him.’

October 13th – ‘Opened up my first ever business in Las Vegas today. I am so happy, Fawlty Towers is now up and running on the strip. I’ve got competition from Saul Battaglia’s hotel, as we are the only two hotels in town but a bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone. I like Saul and he’s looking out for me.’

October 15th – ‘Things are going well, Ezio trusts me more than ever now; he’s just promoted me to Earner. We even had a few drinks in his bar to celebrate. My own business is going well with the help of my newfound friend Gino. Had 100 guests since it opened! Ezio told me to get any cocaine I could lay my hands on to New York Made Man Pineapple Express, so he could sell it in New York as he had connections. Zero chance I’m splitting with any coke I can get my hands on.’

October 20th – ‘The family here in Vegas is really looking out for me, I’ve killed 11 people so far, I’m enjoying each kill more and more. Ezio is trying hard to make it to Don and I’ve been helping him out. Saul, Temperance, TommyDeSimone and Marco Castelletti all seem to trust me. I’ve gotten to know most of the family and what d’ya know, I got promoted to Wise Guy.’

November 2nd – ‘Ezio is still trying hard for Don, he asked me into his office this afternoon to tell me that I was ready for my Made Man promotion. I was so happy that I had achieved it so fast but he basically kicked me in the balls when he said I’d have to wait a full 7 days before he bestowed the title upon me. I swear, I gripped my pistol and almost shot him. I’ve got to respect his decision though, make him feel like he is doing the right thing. All the shit I’ve done so far and this is how he treats me, my anger and hatred is growing by the day. Give me a chance father, just one chance to take Ezio out, I’ll take it.

November 5th – ‘Still not promoted to Made, up to 17 kills now, I’m finding it hard to get the ammo to shoot. My aim is getting better, think it’s only a matter of time before I find my true calling.

I’ve been working hard on the drug run today, helping Ezio set it up. Cocaine seems to be the best way to make a profit besides the horse track. Ezio is cursed when it comes to the horses, every set I give him goes down, a sign of things to come for him I hope.’

November 10th – ‘Day 7 came and went, Ezio didn’t promote me until day 8 and late in the evening. I got the call to go to his place on the strip. The ceremony was short but sweet with champagne flowing as I was finally accepted into the bosom of the family. Ezio congratulated me, said I was a great asset to the family and if I worked hard enough I could make it to the very top beside him. I’ve got to respect the guy, he deserves that for how hard he has worked for the family. I’m not sure if my plan is the right thing to do. I need to think.

Looks like trouble between New York and Miami as well, Faustino just died in New York. This is surely good news for me, I hope they both wipe each other out. Got to say, I didn’t see this coming.’

November 16th – ‘Had a bit of trouble in the family today, my friend BastardSon got shot by Marco Castelletti in Los Angeles. Carl Fogarty went and killed Castelletti for doing it. Seems Castelletti was jealous, I don’t think he liked Bastard, Guido or myself doing so well under Don Ezio. He got what he deserved, wished he’d have come for me instead of BastardSon. I’d of enjoyed killing him and I might have gained a little bit more trust from Ezio. Some of the family are torn over this incident. Canine in particular. I’ll kill him as well when I get the chance. You don’t argue over a Don’s decision. Ezio should kill the lot of them.’

November 20th – ‘10 days after getting Made I’ve finally reached Capo within the family. Peoples attitudes are starting to change around me, I’ve just killed my 23rd guy and feel ready to take on the world. I’ve got a few million in the bank and life is sweet. I honestly have to ask myself should I follow through with my plan? Do I really want to kill Don Ezio? I could help him get to Godfather, I could maybe push to be his right hand man, maybe I could make Don under him? Am I a sinner, is my soul really that evil? Is it evil that I am planning or is it right? I’m a man torn today, maybe it’s the promotion and the sense of belonging in this family. I don’t know. I really don’t know.’

November 22nd – ‘Life is going great. My hotel has never been as busy. Ezio, Saul, Temperance, Deckard and LayerCake are all ranking high now. I seem to be fitting in just perfect. I want to rank high as well.’

November 24th – ‘Ezio is looking weak, he’s not the same man he was when I first joined. He spoke about suicide today. What a fucking joke, a Don committing suicide? Maybe old age is catching up with him, whatever. The plan is back on. I’m going to kill him the first chance I get. He trusts me too much, he passed me 67 guns today while he visited someone in prison. I could’ve easily shot at him on his return, as I knew he wouldn’t be armed. Tempting I know, I want Boss first though, and then I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way. I want Las Vegas for my own.’

November 26th – ‘I’ve just got out of bed to find Carl Fogarty and Rick Deckard are both dead, both our hit squad leaders. Seems they both wanted to see who was the strongest, and after a small incident in the family when a goomba got shanked or something, they took the chance to duel. They both died. Leaves our family very weak, things are in a chaotic state. The family is torn, deceit, hate, East V West, resistance is growing towards Ezio. I nearly shot Temperance today, I don’t know why I didn’t, no one was around and I could’ve buried her without problem, maybe I do have a soft spot, the time wasn’t right I think. Is Ezio really the man to lead us to glory? I’ve never even seen him shoot his gun, has he achieved so much on merit and contacts? Can he lead us in a war?’

November 27th – Morning – ‘I’ve been in Miami most of the day, looking for cocaine dealers as the Las Vegas and Los Angeles run is coming along sweet. I know where everyone is all the time, surely it’s got to help me with my plan? We are turning a decent profit per unit so people are helping. I lost my coke on the train, so instead of stealing someone else’s, I decided to find my own, hence the journey to Miami. I might even get a kill along the way. Saul Battaglia and Ezio are heading to Atlanta for more coke also.’

November 27th – Afternoon – ‘Saul Battaglia and Don Ezio are both in Atlanta, when Ezio actually tried to kill himself. I don’t know if this is the first time he has tried it, he seems unstable. Saul told me Ezio handed him 301 bullets, 92 guns and 38 million in cash, before he tried to commit suicide. I feel deflated. Is this the man I want to follow in my chosen way of life? The answer is quite simply, no. Ezio has been admitted to hospital while Saul has left his side and flown to Miami to get coke.

This is my chance, Ezio is alone and in Atlanta. I’m going there. I’m going to kill him right now, this is the moment I have waited for. If I die, then I die. Saul has fucked up.

I touched down in Atlanta with only murder in mind. I soon found Don Ezio and shot him dead with one shot to the head. Las Vegas will be mine. I kissed his hand and made my way back to Las Vegas. Saul doesn’t suspect me, no one does. I’m going into the belly of the enemy as one of them. The evil is in.’

November 28th – ‘Las Vegas is the battleground. Saul is dead as Detroit has seen the chance to weaken the opposition further. Layer Cake, Temperance, Puck and Johnnie Walker will all follow Ezio to the grave. My chance to set up in Las Vegas, is finally here.’

November 29th – ‘It’s been a long night and a lot of people have died. The gunfire didn’t stop on the strip until the early hours of the morning, I tagged Tala a Made from Vegas among with many others as they came to see what all the commotion was. News seemed to travel slow as I set my sights on even more targets. Layer Cake was taken down in Chicago last night, he must have flown there with Puck and Temperance. Perhaps they thought they would be safe under Almeida’s protection. Almeida soon died in Dallas after him and Apple got it on in Chicago, Gino fought against Almeida in Dallas and died, as did a battle torn Almeida a few minutes later.

Taking stock of the situation it was clear that Puck was now in control of the family. I asked him to release the headquarters my fight wasn’t with him. I’d always got on with Puck. I didn’t allow him to respond, as he didn’t release the HQ, I shot him dead with two bullets. His blood sprayed on to my cotton white shirt as he fell to the floor.

Next up was Johnnie Walker, another so called man of respect, he fled to Dallas. I heard word of it and travelled there to put a bullet in his head and I succeeded. Am I out of control or am I fulfilling my destiny? Hard one to call…names, faces, am I really this evil?’

November 30th – ‘I’ve taken a train ride back to Las Vegas to clear up the mess left behind by Don Ezio’s death. My time is short, I’ve killed 27 people this weekend alone, so I will get to the point, I’m taking Las Vegas. No one will stop me, fellow Capo Guido has a HQ here along side me, he has also seen the chance to set up. I don’t hold anything against him, we will help each other until I find my bearings and see what opposition I have left, then he’ll either move or join me, I hope to become allies. Live by the gun, die by the gun. The commission is quashed, no more rule over all the cities, they are free.’

December 1st – ‘Things are moving fast. Joey Cusack has moved to New York, he’s made contact with me and we have agreed peace. My brothers in Detroit, a few of which have joined me in the West, are watching my back. I’ve 15 members so far and more want to join me. I need time to set up properly, I need more ammunition and funding. The fighting has left me down, I’m a sitting duck to a full scale attack. However there is no one left to attack me. Temperance is the only one left and she has retired from a life of crime to sit at citizen. I’ve given her my word that I won’t shoot at her. I won’t, she is not a threat.’

December 4th – ‘Vegas is mine. I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do. All I am aiming for now is the rank of Boss. This will prove to me that I’ve done the right thing. For a moment I was actually growing fond of Ezio. Even as bad as I know I am, I saw hope in his visions, he inspired me. That all crumbled the day he tried to suicide. If you want the power, you want it so bad you can taste it, you can reach out and touch it and can crush it in your fist, you have a duty to serve it. Ezio had all that, every Mafioso’s dream, right there in his palm. To just toss that away, that, that is the biggest sin of all. That is a back stab to everyone who has followed you, believed in you. That fuelled my fire for this, made me realise that if a man like that could gain power, then a man like myself could not only gain power but make it work and grip it tight.’

December 6th – ‘Home is calling. I’m thinking of moving back to Detroit and joining the Black Bottom Crew, Fawlty should be at home with the BBC. Las Vegas hasn’t the numbers to sustain an attack, New York is growing strong although relations are good. I won’t leave one single member alone though, I’ll make sure they come with me. I need strength, a strength that the family just doesn’t have right now. Maybe I let up too early, killed Ezio too soon. Should I have also attacked and killed New York before I gave them the chance to rebuild? Would this be going against my own thoughts of flourishing freedom?’

December 9th – ‘I’m so close to Boss right now but still the godfather leaves me at Capo. My business is booming, my numbers top 30 members not to mention the 20 plus under Guido, 8 bodyguards, millions in the bank, ammunition to burn, and guns at a maximum, yet I’m hated. People can’t see my vision even some of my own members. I want to see things flourish, families to start up in cities throughout the nation, freedom to run amid the streets. I’m moving back to Detroit.

Control is a seat belt the driver is still free. Basil.’

December 11th – ‘I’ve done it. I’ve reached the rank of Boss and am holding a family down in Las Vegas although with it comes the death of Guido and Lakai. It is time to move back to Detroit now. I need more support rank wise. Temperance has killed Guido and Lakai. Three times I had the chance to kill her and let her live. My mistake, I should have listened when people told me to kill her, Guido and Lakai paid the price. May they sleep well, Amen.’

December 12th – ‘I’ve moved back to Detroit and joined the Black Bottom Crew. I made sure every single one of my family received invites and told them I would help in anyway I could if they needed me. I managed to clear my own rap sheet and turned to citizen for a few hours, citizen isn’t for me. Big Black ranked me back up to Boss this morning. Let’s see what life in Detroit can bring us. I still dream of a life back in Las Vegas, it feels like home but for now I can sleep easy tonight. My family will be safe under the protection of Detroit. I’ve made the right decision I think.’

Basil Fawlty was found dead at his Detroit apartment on December 13th.


MORRISSEY’S AFTERTHOUGHT

With Christmas on the horizon, and snow on the hills, may peace prosper and goodwill triumph as we ring in another new year.

Detroit and New York are the two super powers at the moment with both leaders, Big Black from Detroit and Joey Cusack of New York, favouring peace it would seem. However, last nights gunfire certainly shows that both sides are more than capable of giving as good as they get. Will Joey awake to find a pleasant surprise in his Christmas stocking? Will Big Black enjoy his roast turkey and sprouts while pulling a cracker or two? Or will both leaders feel the big freeze and wear blood-splattered shirts…

Seasonal Greetings from all at ‘The Western Observer’,
Morrissey

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