Stumped on ‘Leading’ crossword? We’ve got the answer!

As a detective examining the clue ‘Leading’ in a crossword puzzle, my first instinct is to think of words or phrases that convey direction or authority. Possible suggestions spring to mind such as head, first, primary, premier, forefront, and so forth. However, studying the details of the grid’s intersections and letter counts, I notice that the clue requires an answer of only five letters, and the third letter must be a ‘T.’ Some answers that fit those criteria emerge such as pilot, guide, steer, and so forth. But, realizing that the clue is written in the present participle form, I keep searching for an answer that denotes an ongoing action, and suddenly it comes to me – ‘ONTOP.’ The word ‘ontop’ suggests a combination of authority, direction, and momentum – all characteristics of a good leader. Thus, the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Leading’ is solved with the answer ‘ONTOP.’