Free S.O.S by Will James Page B

hasn’t really explained how he found the symbols or where they were exactly in the Church,” Zack went on. “You should ask him.”
    Molly frowned over at him. Sometimes he was too intrusive; he didn’t know when to shut up.
    Zack stood up and walked round Father Tom, bending in close to scrutinise his face. Tom scratched a tickle on his nose.
    â€œIt’s a bit strange if you ask me...” he said.
    Molly coughed and made a shooing motion with her hand. Zack came round to her side of the table. “GO AWAY!” she mouthed, when Dev had his head down over the bit of paper with the drawing on it. Zack shrugged. Molly tried to involve herself in the conversation and ignore him.
    â€œWas there anything else besides this?” Dev asked.
    Father Tom shook his head.
    â€œDid anything odd happen that could explain this?” Molly asked.
    Again Father Tom shook his head, but Molly picked up the sense again that he wasn’t being honest.
    â€œWhat was it drawn on the wall with?” she asked.
    â€œIt wasn’t,” Tom said, “it was etched, like someone had scratched it on.”
    â€œReally? That’s weird.”
    Father Tom nodded and began to fold the piece of paper up.
    â€œWell, apart from telling you everything that I have about constellations,” Dev said, “I’m not sure what else I can add.” He finished his cappuccino and looked at the old priest.
    â€œYou’ve been excellent,” Tom said, “and you’ve done quite enough. Thank you.” He got to his feet and stuffed the bit of paper down into the pocket of his raincoat again. “I won’t keep you young people any longer,” he went on, “I am sure you’ve got lots to talk about.” He held out his hand and Dev shook it – no knuckle touching this time.
    â€œWhere’s your Church?” Dev asked.
    â€œOther side of London; it’s a bit of a trek really. Camberwell.”
    â€œThat is a trek,” Dev said. “Take care.”
    They watched Father Tom as he made his way through the tables to the exit where he turned and waved before he disappeared. Molly turned to Dev.
    â€œI’ve got something to show you,” she said, handing him the paper. “Have a look at this. I was reading it on the ferry over and thought it was the strangest story.”
    Dev opened the article and scanned the text.
    â€œCelebrity bust up in the West End?” He looked at her puzzled.
    â€œNo, no down there, in the corner. That article about the robbery at the...” Molly stopped and looked at Dev. He read and then looked at her.
    â€œYou don’t think it’s...”
    She shrugged. “Nah. That would be too....” They both re-read it again and looked at each other “Weird?”
    Dev stood up. “Come on.”
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œWe’re going to find Father Tom and ask him.” Dev was already striding out of the café and Zack was right behind him. Molly had to run to catch him up and she elbowed Zack out of the way.
    â€œSee? I told you it was strange,” Zack said. Molly glared at him and went out into the rain after Dev.
    Down at the pier, both wet, they stood and watched the boat as it moved off. They had just missed it and the chances were that Father Tom was on it.
    â€œIt probably wasn’t him,” Molly said.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut it is odd; the idea of the light and stuff and then the symbols on the church wall.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd it was in Camberwell.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you going to say anything other than yes or no?”
    â€œNo.” Dev turned. “Look Molly, it probably doesn’t mean anything even if it was Father Tom. It is probably just a funny coincidence that he turned up here today and we read about him in the paper.” Molly nodded, but she could see Zack out of the corner of her eye shaking his head and rolling