Windchill Read Free Page B

outside the house - more a set of garages with attached living quarters than the other way round - to look back at Methven and scowl. "Still can't believe they made that wanker a DI."
    Buxton shook his head as he pressed the buzzer. "You're still going on about that nine months on?"
    "Maybe it's because they busted me back to a DC at the same time."
    "At least you're a full DC, mate." Buxton took a step back and peered in the living room window. "I'm still acting. Been going on too long."
    "Aye, sorry." Cullen nodded. "If I had my way, that'd be sorted out long ago."
    "Cheers." Buxton brushed his hair back. "You know he hated you calling him Acting DI all the time, right?"
    "I like to find an angle." Cullen shrugged as he rested against the frozen garden gate, feeling the burn in his fingers. "He shouldn't have been such a pompous git about it."
    "Speak for yourself. Always moaning about how you're not a sergeant."
    Moaning? Bloody hell. Cullen stepped forward and stabbed his finger against the buzzer, holding it for a few seconds. "It's reporting to Rarity that's a bloody nightmare."
    "And Methven would be better?"
    "Maybe."
    The door opened. The man Cullen had seen earlier stood there, the collar of his polo shirt now turned up, a large Nokia in his piggy fingers. "Can I help you?"
    Cullen flashed his warrant card. "Police Scotland. We're looking to speak to Alistair Walker."
    "That's me." Walker frowned. "Is this about the fire?"
    "It is." Cullen cleared his throat. "We need to ask you a few questions."
    "Sure." Walker led them inside, his shoulders hunched and arms wagging at his sides. He led them into a sitting room, the din of small children coming from down the hall, accompanied by the acrid smell of fried food - pancakes done with too much oil. "Sorry about the noise, officers. Kids are off school for Christmas. Can't get a moment's peace."
    "No problem." Cullen sat on an armchair before getting out his notebook and clicking his pen. "We understand you called to report the fire at Mr McCoull's house last night?"
    "Aye, that's true." Walker clicked his fingers and a white Scotty dog raced across the room. It sat on its hind legs in front of him, ears pricked up and left paw raised. "I took Benji here out for his constitutional last thing. Be about half eleven. I smelt smoke. It clearly wasn't Eric next door doing some winter barbecuing, didn't smell anything like that."
    "Winter barbecuing?"
    "Aye." Walker chuckled. "He likes to cook steaks on his gas barbecue."
    "Even in winter?"
    "Aye. And at half eleven sometimes." Walker reached down to stroke the dog's fur, smoothing out some dirt. "It's been known to happen. Big Australian thing he's got. Picked it up from a garden centre sale."
    "But you didn't think it was him cooking steaks?"
    "As I say, the smell was different. It wasn't meat. It was like a fire, you know, in a blazer or something."
    "So you went over to inspect?"
    "I did, aye. I put Benji inside and hurried over. There were flames leaping out of one of the windows that had burst open. I could feel the heat on my skin, you know?" Walker held up his phone. "So I dialled 999."
    "And what did you do after you phoned us?"
    "I made sure Benji was in his bed and told the wife. We both went back over. There were a few people out by then. The fire had really taken off. There were flames in the windows and stuff."
    "Did you recognise these people?"
    "Aye. Most of the neighbours."
    "Did you see anyone you didn't recognise?"
    Walker sat forward, clasping his fingers and staring into space for a few seconds. "Not that I can think of, no."
    Cullen noted it down. Something to check with Rarity later.
    Walker frowned, though he avoided eye contact. "Listen, what's this about? Are you investigating it as an insurance job?"
    "What makes you think that?"
    "Two detectives pitching up at my door asking questions about a house fire, seems a bit strange to me."
    "It wouldn't be a Major Investigation Team working an insurance fraud