'A Murder 2 Die For'

‘A Murder 2 Die For’

Frank Michael Burtrym

Copyright Frank Michael Burtrym 2010

Smashwords Edition

Chapter One

It’s Thursday, December 20 th , and not quite the ideal season to be driving across Canada; but for me, it is the perfect time to restart my life both professionally and personally and establish some roots. After all, the coming of a new year traditionally is when resolutions are made for change, self improvement and new beginnings. In my case, the bucket list is overflowing. It includes moving back home to Toronto from British Columbia where I have spent the past few years building and managing other people’s businesses.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Alexander Nicholas Turyk, but you can call me Alex. I am 32, currently single and a former athlete, sales rep, ad agency account manager, credit manager and regional manager of a credit organization. My last employer recently sold its Canadian holdings to a major US conglomerate.

So, here I am, currently unemployed, on my way to Toronto to launch my own company while returning to the area where I grew up and started my career about a decade ago. As you can tell by my work history, my experience is somewhat varied and has enabled me to develop some skills that I would never otherwise have learned to sharpen, to have some financial success and a healthy bank account. Although I had the opportunity to join the US company, and turned down a lucrative offer, I decided to remain in Canada and head home.

Ideally, my new beginning will allow me the time and opportunity to further enhance my current professional skills and develop new ones while exploring some of my interests and passions. As a mystery buff, I read over 50 novels a year written by some of the most popular writers and have long wondered if I have the talent to write one of my own. This goal tops my initial list. Also, as a rabid sports fan, I plan to see as many Blue Jays and Raptors games as possible. Other goals also occupy my large bucket and they will all have their turn but opening my new business and writing the novel are my priorities on the list.

Although I was always free and enthusiastic in accepting new challenges including multiple transfers, I seem to have a problem with commitment. Hopefully, establishing a permanent residency and growing as a person and as a man will enable me to expand my social horizons to find someone with whom I can share my life.

On the way, one kilometer at a time.

Chapter Two

Two weeks after my arrival back in Toronto, I have settled into my new condo which will also be my home office, only steps from Lake Ontario with a perfect view of the lake and Toronto Island. The island is only a ferry or water taxi ride away while the Air Canada Centre and Rogers Centre, where I can enjoy my Raptors, NHL and Blue Jays games are each within a short walk. The island airport is just blocks away as are the business district and downtown restaurants and sports bars as well as entertainment venues. What a great start. All that is missing is a boat I can use during the summer.

Business comes first, so I can afford and merit the lifestyle I want, as well as enjoy it to the fullest. As somewhat of a workaholic, I need to start a business I enjoy which offers challenges on a regular basis to operate at my maximum efficiency. As a result, I have created a concept and business plan that will provide both. I have created a combination a financial recovery and private investigation firm which will enable me to employ the experience and skills I have developed over the years. Business development, marketing, sales, skip tracing and collections all played a part in my past career success. The plan is to seek out corporate clients rather than individuals since I have no ambition to be a private investigator who follows cheating spouses around catching them in the act and taking photos of their trysts.

The first step is securing licences for both the collection division as well as the private investigation. Although I do not plan to spend time chasing people for money outside my home office, I feel having the licences will add to my credibility to potential clients plus add to my flexibility while handing cases. Most collections will be handled using the clients’ letterheads and corporate address. Ideally, clients will also ask me to handle background checks on prospective employees or current employees about whom they might have concerns.

While awaiting approval for my licence applications, I have decided to spend a little time researching potential plots and styles for my mystery novel as well as familiarize myself with some of my former hangouts and explore the hot spots downtown where I can make new friends. 

Reading numerous murder mysteries over the past few years by some of the world’s most popular writers has given me some insight as to which styles I like best and those which I might find most comfortable trying to employ. I seem to find writing shorter chapters would be my best bet, since novels written in that style keep me most interested. They generally are filled with action or provide updated information about the plot or characters. Next up will be creating my characters, developing a plot that keeps readers interested and then deciding on a working title. There is a lot of work to do even before I start writing, as well as a lot of editing in my brain before I even write one word. Just the thought of all the preparation and work ahead makes me aware that I need a break since I have been extremely busy moving into my condo and setting up my business plan. Time for some fun.

Chapter Three

Since my previous life in Toronto was spent living close to downtown and frequenting the trendy Yorkville and Queen Street West areas, I plan to take a couple of days refamiliarizing with those areas first. Hopefully, I will run into some familiar faces and maybe some of my favourite places are still there. Perhaps I can also be inspired and can dream up a plot line involving those areas or find characters who fit it, instead of sitting at my laptop for hours waiting for ideas to suddenly appear. The best bet is to initially visit both locations during the day when I can see the changes and discover places I can enjoy when they are busier. I would rather do that rather find a familiar spot and sit there for hours totally uninspired also getting a little inebriated. Queen West will be my first route to inspiration, since it is closer to me and should offer more of a variety of bars, restaurants and characters. The prices are less than the Yorkville tourist trap of high end retailers and more expensive night life establishments.

At approximately 11 am, awake after my morning coffee and depressed over CNN’s ‘Breaking News’, I am on my way finally filled with late night thoughts that a plot and characters for my novel are out there somewhere. Off I go, up Bay St., the financial district, heading about seven blocks to Queen St. where City Hall is located. I plan to drop in another day when I have more time, but turn left to head west where I will start my tour on the south side of the street and finish checking out north side establishments on my return.

My stroll down memory lane takes me further west past the sparkling new arts centre, across University Ave., where the area across the street has been redeveloped and now contains numerous new businesses which mostly seem to be multicultural restaurants. As I approach Spadina Ave., I can see the historical Horseshoe Tavern where many famous musicians have played including the Rolling Stones.  Further along towards Bathurst, I can see that the changes are not quite as dramatic although a Loblaws grocery store and a few new smaller businesses are signs of population growth and development in the area. Crossing Bathurst, I can see that Pizza Pizza still has its southwest corner with a Tim Hortons next door but also am quickly aware that a few homeless people are still present in the area at the drop- in hostel on the northeast corner. I am tempted to turn around but continue my journey to find out if older establishments are still operating in the area. It is now just past noon and after viewing so many fast food restaurants along the way, I am famished so am determined to feed my hunger before I travel much further.

The next three blocks provide many options in the form of Nando, a restaurant specializing in chicken, Public House which offers all meals at $6.99 and a pizza place across the street.  First things first, so my hunger and thirst must be sated and quenched and where better than what seems like a combination sports bar and restaurant that serves inexpensive food. I will conclude my stroll west after filling my growling stomach.

The Public House was my choice and a pleasant surprise with its spacious area, low food prices with a few large screen TVs. A bonus was the warm greeting from a young perky very attractive server who told me to sit wherever I chose. As is my preference as I am in the search for some information about the area along with some conversation, I chose a seat at the bar accessible to chat with both servers.  I quickly ordered the penne special and a Coors Lite. As soon as I finished eating and the lunch crowd left, I finally had a chance to chat with the servers, Alexis and Juliana, about my desire to learn more about the places I once knew as well as Toronto’s new hotspots. I also told them about my career change and my bucket list and both seemed very interested, suggesting a few places that I might enjoy. I was very impressed with both ladies especially their personalities and intelligence, so asked if Public House was a good place