6. The Wife of Bath's Tale

Well, that’s what Morse called it anyway.

“Transcript from officer’s notebook of interview with Mrs Katherine Buckland of 42 Jack Russell Lane, Marston, Oxford, on the 26th October 1998 at said address, as taken by PC7520 Thomas Marlborough:
Response to missing person, one Gideon Buckland, husband of interviewee.
Not seen by wife since 5pm Sat 24th. Expected early morning Sun 25th or later in day. Out drinking with friends – James Ampleforth, Jim Fox, Philip Harcourt, Andrew Shelley (contacts recorded). None report seeing after approx. 11.30pm 24th according to wife at Butchers, Wilberforce Street. 5’ 11’, dark hair + complexion, medium build, no distinguishing features. Photo given. Wearing dark blue winter jacket, blue jeans. Carrying light brown rucksack possibly containing cycling clothing and large pad of paper. Also missing bicycle – dark blue, Trek road racing bike – taken by missing person on last seeing wife. Likely intoxicated at time of disappearance.
Out of character to go missing so long. Often stays with friends if out late. No other particular friends. No family in Oxford. Rooms in St Peters college – wife rang – porter hasn’t seen him since Fri 23rd. Not expecting to leave Oxford and wife says no emergencies with family (rang parents). Wife worried has had accident on bike while drunk. No other means of transport – doesn’t drive, no license. Wife has car – out front of house. He has set of keys for car – not at home.
Slightly unusual behaviour recently – distracted. Not finishing tasks. Late with academic paper submission. Downcast. Not usual bright self. Reading late at night. Not missing during daytime. Wife denies money problems. No known debts. Allegedly “liked by all”. Wife also totally denies chance he was having an affair – “not the type”, “faithful”, “believe it of anyone else before him”. Angry with suggestion.

Plan: alert control, general radio of description – also bike description, check with A&E at John Radcliffe Hospital, contact friends, college

Additional: Bicycle found by PC7231 – locked and chained outside Butchers arms – apparently not moved

Additional: Wife phoned: unusual fact about car keys – husband apparently picked hers up by mistake – both sets kept together normally in bowl in kitchen. Wife found his set with Tour de France 1996 keyring at home. Hers with miniature bible not present, presumed with husband.”

Well, what do you make of that? Old Tom stuck his foot in right there with the affair card, didn’t he! So the bike didn’t move. How did Gideon leave the pub – staggering, taxi, picked up by someone else? Worth checking the taxi firms? I don’t suppose they keep records of every drunk they pick up from a pub on a Saturday night, and certainly not from so many years ago. And what’s that with the car keys? Just a simple error? Not like he could use them anyway. Anyway, sounds like things were not quite right with Gideon Buckland.