Daily Riddle: Who Killed the Writer?

Sometimes people think they’re quite clever and get away with murder, as in the following case about a columnist who was stabbed to death. Can you guess who his killer was?

THE STORY

Detective Edmond Nickles looked around the dingy and heavily cluttered apartment of the famous columnist Todd MacMillan who had been stabbed to death. The writer’s agent, Steven Pearl, was the one who called the police.

Pearl called 911 when Todd failed to submit his column to the newspaper for the week. The aging columnist’s body hung over his manual typewriter and there was a paper in the machine.

Nickles glanced at the paper and realized it was the writer’s column. Todd’s head rested on the keyboard where it seemed he’d typed random keys with the last line reading:

"49t34 w5qgg3e j3."

Pearl explained to the detective that his late client had preferred using a typewriter instead of a computer. Being able to pound on the outdated machine had been therapeutic to the victim.

Todd’s agent had given Detective Nickles a list of people who were suspects that the policeman questioned. Three of the people stood out for the detective during questioning.

THE ESTRANGED WIFE

Karen MacMillan and the late victim had been separated for almost two years now. They initially had a peaceful separation but off-late, things had become tense as they fought over assets.

The columnist was willing to give his estranged wife their mansion and a huge lump sum payment. However, he refused to give her the excessive alimony she demanded from him.

Karen was still living in the mansion and had a more than adequate pre-alimony settlement. She’d also moved on with her life with her new, younger, and much more attractive boyfriend.

THE NEW GIRLFRIEND

Pam Gridder was Todd’s new girlfriend and she was clearly high maintenance. She cried when questioned by the detective while wearing her designer dress and carrying her designer bag.

Gridder held looked drop-dead gorgeous (excuse the pun) in her diamond and emerald jewelry and a Rolex watch. Nickles suspected that her grief was more for the loss of her “gravy train” than for her boyfriend.

THE DECEASED'S BROTHER

The last person Nickles questioned was Todd’s brother, John MacMillan. The late writer actually stole Gridder from John and the younger man had a huge grudge against his famous sibling.

He even blatantly confessed to the detective that he was glad Todd was dead. John even hinted that he might try to get Gridder back now that she was back on the dating market.

Nickles took some time investigating the case and quickly resolved it. Do you have any idea who the actual killer was or can you guess?

ANSWER

Pearl, the agent, was arrested after Nickles had a closer look at the message left on the column that Todd was working on. He realized that the last line was code for "Roger stabbed me” or 49t34 w5qgg3e j3.

The writer managed to type the message after the stabbing occurred, but his fingers were positioned one line higher on the keyboard when he typed it. Todd wanted to fire Pearl and the agent stabbed him in a fit of rage.

Source: Braingle.