Have a little faith

Chapter Two

For the third time Billy looked through the wallet, checking every compartment, every insert and every piece of paper.

There was no driving license and nothing that indicated an address, he snapped the wallet back shut and put it in his dressing down pocket.

He then reached down to the ground and pulled at Todd's shoe that was stuck hard in the mud, it took a few tugs but eventually it came loose.

He held the shoe in his hands, just staring at it.

He already knew what he was going to do, if he didn't then it would just play on his conscience, but as he turned his head over his shoulder and saw the massive hole in the priceless stainglass window he wondered whether sometimes he should just let things be. But he couldn't, he got the impression that this Todd was a good guy, but just in a dark place.

He'd been there once before and if only he'd had a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand then his story may have been different.

Perhaps it was because the adrenalin from his earlier scuffle with Todd was wearing off, or perhaps the temperature had actually dropped, but for whatever reason he could suddenly feel the cold air seeping through his dressing gown, he rubbed his arms for warmth and turned around to head back to the house.

It was as he looked back at the grave that Todd had been sitting at that he suddenly had an idea.

He raced his way back over to the vicarage, into his study he opened drawers, looked through bookshelves and checked filing cabinets. He hadn't long held the position at this church, so he was still finding his feet, but he knew he'd seen the records book somewhere.

"Ah" he found the book he'd been looking for, very old and dated and bound with a gold clasp, he opened it and leafed through the back pages till he reached the year 2004.

"Gotcha" he said pointing at an entry, he read it out loud "Billy Platt.......mother Sarah platt, number. 8 Coronation street"

He closed the book with a thud and headed upstairs to get changed.

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He'd had no joy finding Todd at number 8, Sarah's mother Gail had answered the door and had explained that Todd Grimshaw had never lived there. She'd even laughed slightly at the mere suggestion, but she knew, luckily for Billy Gail knew......that Todd lived just over the road at number 11.

Billy had thanked her for her time and headed over the road, to the yellow coloured door opposite, Todd's abandoned shoe and his wallet in hand, Billy knocked on the door.

It took a while for it to be answered, but as he checked the time on his phone he did realise the time was quite late tonne door knocking.

A blonde haired woman opened the door, she looked at Billy with an inquisitive glare.

"Yes?"

"I'm looking for Todd Grimshaw"

"Oh god, are you the guy from this morning?" She replied "look I'm sorry, but he's not here and you're not welcome"

"No, no" Billy had to say quickly, wedging his foot in the door as the woman began to close it on him "I'm the vicar from the church up the road, I've just seen Todd, I assumed he'd made his way back home"

"Who is it.........oooo, 'ello, my names Sean, pleased to meet you!" A dirty blonde haired male stuck his hand out to shake Billy's, who ignored it

"Errr....I'm Billy, but I'm just looking for Todd, I'm worried about him!"

Eileen's face now changed "I'm his mum, Eileen.....w....wh...why would you be worried about him, what's happened"