Another Max Gaetanno Mystery

Another Max Gaetanno Mystery

The famous RiddleDude detective Max Gaetanno is called in to examine yet another grisly murder scene. He glances about the cluttered apartment. The famous columnist Theodore Burnside III had been fatally stabbed. His agent Roger had called the police when Burnside failed to submit his column to the newspaper earlier that day.

Burnside’s body was draped over his manual typewriter. Max glances at the paper in the typewriter. It appeared to be the writer’s column.

The victim’s head rested on the keyboard and had apparently hit random keys causing the last line of the article to be followed by: 49t34 ,k..dc j3
“I’m surprised to see that he still uses a typewriter!” exclaims Max. Roger explains that Theodore found it therapeutic to pound the keys on his typewriter, rather than type on a computer. Out of a list of acquaintances provided by Burnside’s agent Max questioned the following people.

Maria had been separated from Burnside for the last year. Although initially the split had been amicable, lately things had gotten a bit nasty about the division of their assets. Burnside was willing to give Maria the mansion and a generous lump sum payment, but wanted to draw the line at the excessive alimony being demanded by Maria’s lawyer. Maria was living in the mansion and had a generous pre-alimony settlement and a new boyfriend.

Jill was Burnside’s current girlfriend. She definitely was a looker and by all appearances was extremely high maintenance. She was also the spring in this romance. You note everything. She had a Gucci bag, wore emerald and diamond jewelry and on her wrist a new Rolex. You suspect her grief was for the loss of her endless source of money and not for the deceased.

Burnside’s brother, Gerald, had been dating Maria when Burnside had stolen her away. Gerald still held a grudge and blatantly tells you that “he was glad his brother was dead and good riddance”. He hinted that he might try to win Maria back, now that his brother was dead.

After a whole thirteen seconds, Jones looks at you. “I’m stumped.” he says.
“Lucky for you, I’m not!” Says Max. “I know exactly who killed the man!”

Who was it?