However, now things had turned nasty Mum insisted on coming to the park with us. The next day there were lots of police in and around the shrubbery, and then – surprise, surprise – a TV crew arrived with a squeal of tyres to cover the latest gruesome developments. When Dermot O’Flannery climbed out of his car, Mum did her hair flicking thing and moved towards him, a friendly smile playing across her lips. He gave her a quick nod, a wink and a grin – the professional reaction of a TV personality to a fan. We watched while he did a serious piece to camera, explaining how RSPCA inspector Gabbie Robinson had been brutally murdered in the park. Then he talked to Mumsiewumsie, who was in tears throughout the interview, and Collie Woman, whose voice was husky with shock. The small Spanish lady wailed about how terrible it was, and the short, fat man did a lot of sighing and tutting and fretting about how nowhere was safe any more. Byron’s owner refused point-blank to do an interview – he was far too traumatized, he said.
