The Johnstown Vindicator
by Quincy Long

THE STORY: The news that a local evangelist has been murdered throws “The Vindicator” into the crisis it's been putting off for years.

Jack, the city editor, grapples with the secrets of his dubious parentage, and manages to alienate Janet, his ace staffer, in the process.

JJ, the cub reporter, stumbles in and out of competence, while Pepper, JJ's nubile girlfriend, bypasses competence altogether and breaks into print—profoundly irritating the veteran Hump, who proceeds to drink himself out of a job.

Carl, the minister's son (and self-proclaimed patricide), can't get anybody to believe that he killed his father (because he didn't) so he shifts focus and proposes to Jack's oddball mother, who, as it happens, orchestrated the murder as a boon for her son, who is trying to get the goods on Tucci, his arch enemy and long-lost brother.

All very bizarre—but, in the end, evil is punished, good is rewarded, Mom expires, and the boys (finally) grow up.