Shape of Snakes

E-mail correspondence with Libby Garth, formerly

Libby Williams of 21 Graham Road-dated 1999

M. R.

From: Libby Garth (Iiga@netcomuk.co)

Sent: 17 August 1999 20:17

To: M. Ranelagh

Subject: Re Meeting on Friday at Jock's house

Dear M-written in haste before I rush out to collect Amy from her friend's house. You say it's water under the bridge and that none of us needs be embarrassed after so long, but I am MORTIFIED! How can I look any of you in the face, particularly you and Jock? I know you've asked me not to explain or apologize, but I do feel badly about it. AND I AM SORRY. Please believe me, whatever Sam and I had going all those years ago-it was dead as a dodo before you left England.

I know you say this meeting on Friday is important, but I truly can't face it. You and Jock must feel very raw to have Sam confess after twenty years-you, in particular, must hate me for my hypocrisy. You probably think I was only pretending friendship by helping you over Annie, but it honestly wasn't like that. I was pleased to help, even more pleased that we went on being friends in spite of everything. The truth is I let myself believe that Sam would never tell-more because he remained so close to Jock, I think, than because he thought you wouldn't be able to take it-and it wasn't as if it was terribly important where he was that night, just so long as he and Jock admitted they didn't see Annie at 7:45. In all these years, the only lies I have ever told you were to do with that wretched alibi-God knows, I wish we'd been honest at the time-but it seemed so unimportant compared with the hurt you'd feel to learn about the affair. Of course, it was wrong, but I couldn't see any harm in it. Sam and Jock obviously had nothing to do with Annie's death-as I kept telling you-and I didn't want you thinking badly of me.

Anyway, the upshot of all this is that I have written out a statement, with precise times and details of all movements in and out of number 21 that night-insofar as I remember them-which I am sending as an attachment. I think you'll find they agree with what Jock and Sam say. I will, of course, do it formally when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will end with love, and pray you can still accept it.

Love,

L

PS: Apart from anything else, I can't just abandon the girls to their own devices for the day, and poor old Jim would be deeply alarmed if I told him I was about to have a reunion with my ex-husband! He'd want to know why ... and then I'd have to tell him about Sam ... and how I'd wronged my best friend. I'm sorry, m'dear. I hope you understand.

LIBBY GARTH