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and Buxton of Police Scotland." Cullen showed his ID, struggling to keep his eyes off the slippers.
    Heald inspected the card before handing it back. "How can I help?"
    "Need to ask you a few questions about a Steven McCoull?"
    Heald smirked, his whole face lightening up. "What's Steve done now?"
    "Mr McCoull died last night."
    "Shit." Heald swallowed. "Right, you'd better come in then." He opened the door wide then led them into a sitting room, the wall-mounted TV paused in the middle of a rugby match. "Have a seat, lads."
    Cullen perched on the edge of a sofa, the leather cold. "We understand you're acquainted with Mr McCoull?"
    "Pretty well, aye." Heald rubbed his eyebrows. "How did he die?"
    "There was a house fire."
    "I saw the fire engines. That was Steve? Bloody hell." Heald gritted his teeth.
    "How did you know Mr McCoull?"
    "From the rugby club. Juniper Green. I'm the captain. Steve's the treasurer."
    "We understand you were with him last night?"
    "Aye, that's correct. We were out in town for a few beers."
    "Whereabouts?"
    "The Living Room on George Street. You know it?"
    "I do. Were you there all night?"
    "We were. Had a table reserved." Heald frowned as he crossed his legs, a pink slipper dangling off the toes of his right foot. "Actually, now you mentioned it, Steve wasn't there all night."
    "What happened?"
    "He just upped and left at the back of eight, I think."
    "Suddenly?"
    "Aye. Left half a pint, as well. That's not like him."
    "Did anyone leave with him?"
    "None of our lot, that's for sure."
    "Who else was there with you?"
    "Roger and Tim."
    "Can we get names and numbers?"
    "Sure." Heald got up and walked over to a hi-fi unit at the back of the room. He scribbled something on a blank sheet of paper and returned. "Here you go."
    "Thanks." Cullen pocketed it. "Do you have any idea why he left?"
    "None at all. Sorry." Heald shook his head as he hissed out breath. "It's a real shame. Steve was a great guy. Real solid guy. Loved his rugby. Loved coaching it."
    "He was involved in coaching youths?"
    "He was, aye."
    "Could any of the players' parents have taken against him?"
    "Don't think so. He was loved by the players, like an uncle. The lads in the club loved him too. Nobody was ever kicked out by him, even some of the spikier little shits. He worked with them to calm their anger and focus their attitude, you know. There'd even been offers from the SRU. Sorry, the Scottish Rugby Union."
    "I know what SRU stands for. What sort of offers are you talking?"
    "They wanted Steve to oversee junior level rugby in Edinburgh, but he didn't want to give up his business."
    "Do you know much about the business?"
    "Not really, sorry. I'm a teacher myself. Business isn't something I'm particularly interested in. Just give me the money and let me get on with my rugby. Watching, playing or talking about it, I don't care."
    "Was there anyone in the club who'd taken a dislike to Mr McCoull?"
    "No. Steve was well liked across the board."
    "So nobody?"
    "Not Steve, no."
    "What about friends in the club, then?"
    "If you're meaning anyone he was close to then there's only really Eric Young and me. Roger and Tim, maybe."
    "I see." Cullen got to his feet and handed him a card. "If you think of anything else, don't hesitate to call us, okay?"
    "Will do. I just..." Heald sucked in a deep breath, nostrils flaring as he clenched his fists. "Give me a minute or two in a room with whoever did this."
    "There's already a long queue forming."
    "I bet there is." Heald led them outside, a bitter smile on his face. He waved the card. "I'll call if anything else comes to mind, okay?"
    "Thanks." Cullen watched the door shut then started off down the path towards the pool car. "Not sure that got us anywhere."
    "Yeah, me neither." Buxton unlocked the car. "This is weirdsville, mate. And I don't just mean his slippers."
    "Welcome to Edinburgh. Old school tie and all that. It'll only get worse if we vote for independence."
    "You reckon?"
    "Ach, that's