Heimdall/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\DispatchesJobs;
use Illuminate\Routing\Controller as BaseController;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Validation\ValidatesRequests;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
use App\User;

class Controller extends BaseController
{
    use AuthorizesRequests, DispatchesJobs, ValidatesRequests;

    protected $user;

    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->user = $this->user();
    }

    public function user()
    {
        if (Auth::check()) { // if logged in, set this user
            return Auth::user();
        } else { // not logged in, get first user
            return User::first();
        }
    }
}