Neo pulled into the Sailor Mate's car park. The pub was one of the oldest buildings in Marton, built at the same time as Felton Manor. It was a brick building with big bay windows in the front and a small garden at the back. He'd spend many an afternoon enjoying their Sunday lunch or playing out the back with his kids.

Never did he think he'd be there to ask for security footage.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Willow or Charlie's word, but more that he wanted to reassure himself that nothing had really happened.

He ducked underneath the door and went straight to the bar where Rob was already moving about.

Back in the day, the pub had been the locals spot. Not open until 1pm it would cater to drinkers till 2am the next day but times had changed. Out with the day drinkers and in with the mother and baby classes, the local WI, and community council. They now catered for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a selection of cakes and coffees.

Considering they were one of the few places that served the really good stuff when it came to coffee, the locals flocked there. No Starbucks or cafe Nero in Marton. So the Sailor's Mate was the best place around.

'Morning Chief, can I get you the regular?' Rob was already walking over to their state of the art coffee maker, a stainless steel contraption that had more levers and taps than a Japanese toilet.

'Aye Rob, and I have something else to ask you.' Neo propped an elbow on the counter as Rob fiddled with his machine.

'Oh? And what is it going to cost me?' Rob looked over his shoulder as he frothed the milk.

'Nothing.'

Rob huffed, not believing him. He poured the coffee into a cup and set it in front of Neo.

'£1.40.'

Neo tapped his card against the reader, hearing the beep.

'So what do you need?' Rob leaned forward, intrigued.

'I need to know if you have CCTV showing the green?' Neo thumbed in the direction of the door.

Rob scratched his head. 'The camera on the door might have caught something.' He stopped, peering at Neo. 'This wouldn't have anything to do with the family that's gone missing?'

Neo wanted to groan. That was the only problem with coming to Rob; if there was any gossip to wheedle out of someone, Rob would find it and no doubt the whole town would know before lunch. But it was a risk that Neo was willing to take.

'You know I can't discuss such matters, but no.' Neo watched as the excitement in Rob's eyes died.

Rob sighed, no longer interested now that his main source of gossip had run dry. 'How much do you need?'

'Whatever you've got from about 8pm last night until 9am this morning,' Neo replied.

'Sure, sure,' Rob agreed, shuffling off.

Neo's phone started ringing before he could reply.

'DCI Denzel speaking.'

'Hello, this is Mary Wilkes, you left a message for me? I'm the headmistress for Butterflies Primary school.' A nervous voice spoke from the other end of the line.

'Of course, Mrs Wilkes, can you bear with me one moment?' Neo didn't wait for her reply before he was motioning for Rob.

'Is there anywhere private I can take this?' Neo asked, covering the mic on his phone with his hand.

'The snug will be empty, up the stairs, second door.' Rob waved him off.

Neo climbed the stairs two at the time and flew into the room. It was the place that Rob and his wife usually used to relax, though their staff and guests were welcome as well.

It was only tiny. Filled with a rack of shelves holding an assortment of books along one wall, and a selection of furniture. A few choice pictures hung on the wall, including an old map of Marton, giving it a very cosy feeling that Neo had no time to appreciate.

'Thank you for calling me back, Mrs Wilkes.'

'Of course. It's just terrible, the whole thing is just shocking.' Her voice wavered.

'I understand this must be a distressing time. I believe you taught Emma personally so I can only imagine.' Neo worded it carefully.

'Oh yes, lovely child, engaging, caring, just an absolute darling. Danny as well, of course, although I haven't had the pleasure of teaching him.'

'Mrs Wilkes, I need to know if you or any of your staff noticed a change in either Emma or Danny in the last few months?' Neo asked, an edge of command in his voice.

'Well...I'm not sure... they're delightful children..'

'Mrs Wilkes, this could have a bearing on our case. Please tell me everything that you know.' Neo held his breath as the other line fell silent.

'I'm assuming that what I say is in confidence, DCI? We are dealing with very young children.'

'Of course Mrs Wilkes,' Neo assured her.

Mrs Wilkes cleared her throat. 'Emma had become rather reserved over the last four weeks, playing by herself, no longer getting involved in class. We were monitoring the change should it become bad enough to alert the parents.'

'And Danny?'

Neo held his breath.

'There had been a few behavioural issues. Just around sharing and hitting out. He bit a playmate just last week. A letter was sent home. We were encouraging Jane and Harry to come in after their trip.' Mrs Wilkes went quiet, but Neo didn't have to be a mind reader to know what she wasn't saying.

If the Bennett family hadn't gone missing, then they would have had to go to Butterflies Primary school to discuss Danny's behaviour and possibly Emma's withdrawal.

'Thank you, Mrs Wilkes. You've been very helpful. If there is anything else you can think of, please contact me.'

A few more pleasantries later and Neo hung up.

He tapped his phone against his leg before pocketing it. Charlie had been right; it looks as though there was something happening at home.

Neo rubbed his hand down his face, wondering what this meant for his case. Could the missing family really be a domestic, or was there still some outside force that he had yet to identify?

Whilst Mrs Wilkes had provided some answers, she hadn't provided concrete proof.

Neo left the room, skidding to a stop as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He could see Charlie at the bar, her back facing him, but there was no mistaking it was her.

Back were her ripped skinny jeans, but instead of her bulky jumpers, she'd chosen to wear a skin tight blouse that billowed out at the elbow. He tried to pull his eyes away from her soft curves, but it was hard.

'Morning Charlie.' His words made her jump.

She relaxed when she saw it was just him. 'Oh, morning Chief.' She stifled a yawn, her whole body sagging. Yesterday had been a long day for her.

'What are you doing here?'

'One round of chai tea and a bacon sandwich with no egg.' Rob's wife Babs slid the order towards Charlie before she had time to answer Neo.

'Thanks Babs, would you also have one of those protein bars? The one I had yesterday would be great,' Charlie asked, her mouth already salivating at the delicious smell coming from the wrapped parcel.

'Late night, was it?' Babs eyed her with interest.

Neo shook his head. There must have been a law that all publicans were gossipers because Babs was just as bad as her husband as she tried to fish details out of Charlie.

'Couldn't sleep, is all.' Charlie pointedly avoided Neo's gaze. The last thing she needed was to set tongues wagging in the small town.

'Girl, you used to be the best form of gossip, you're getting tame in your old age,' Babs cheeked, heading into the back to find the protein bar.

'Oh aye, if I remember rightly you and Rob were no angels either,' Charlie shouted, Bab's deep chuckle sounding from the back.

'Damn right we weren't. This town was quiet enough. It needed us youngbloods to keep it entertaining. What else were the OAPs going to complain about otherwise?' Rob said, his beefy frame shaking with laughter.

He went back around the bar and tapped on his computer a few times, a black screen staring back at him.

'Everything alright Rob?' Neo asked, noticing the man's walrus moustache twitching with disapproval.

'Looks like one of our security wires came loose sometime last week.' He turned his laptop around so Neo and Charlie could see it. 'All I have is a couple of days of blank data. Sorry Chief.'

Neo sighed but just waved off the man's concerns. 'Don't worry about it Rob, it was nothing important anyway.' Though inside, he was disappointed.

He would have liked to see his daughter's altercation for himself. Whilst he knew Willow could handle herself, that didn't mean the next girl the boy tried it out on would be the same.

'I just have no idea how it could have come loose.' Rob scratched at his head. 'But at least now I can get it fixed. We rarely have to use the system, so I don't check it regularly,' he admitted.

Babs returned from the back with a frown. 'Sorry Charlie, looks like we're out of those protein bars.'

'But I ordered a pack of those three days ago? Did you check in the storage room?' Rob peered at his wife.

'Aye, looks like we're also down a couple of snack boxes as well.'

Rob cursed, 'I bet you that's those bloody campers that came in a few nights ago. Just passing through my arse.'

'It's just a couple of bars, Robby, don't get so flustered, think of your heart.' Babs leaned over and placed a kiss on her husband's cheek.

He brightened quickly after that. 'You're right as usual, my sweetness.'

Charlie and Neo shared a smile. Rob and Babs had to have been one of the most affectionate couples they both knew. The love shone out of their eyes whenever they looked at each other.

'So that's just one bacon sandwich and a chai latte. £4, please.' Rob tore his lustful eyes away from his wife and rang up Charlie's order.

Paying with a tap, Charlie and Neo bid the couple a farewell and left.

When they were in the car park, Neo turned to Charlie.

'You were right. Emma had become withdrawn and Danny was having behavioural issues. He bit a kid last week. Jane and Harry were supposed to be having a meeting about it sometime this week,' Neo finished.

Charlie took a sip of her drink as she thought about this new piece of information.

'It seems to be leading in one direction, Chief,' she summed up, making Neo frown.

'So you think it's a domestic issue? Something between Jane and Harry?'

Charlie shrugged. 'I have some contacts in Leeds. I'll give them a ring and see what they can dig up.'

'From what we've found, they seem to be the perfect couple. Doting, likeable, and very much in love.'

Charlie snorted. 'No couple is that good. Just give me a bit of time and I'll see what I can find out.'

Neo went to reply when his mobile cut him off.

'Denzel speaking,' he barked.

'Chief?' Gwilt asked, his voice grim. 'You'd better get to the Phillips' residence. Jerry Phillips has gone missing.'