Rob Gandreider

****R******upert Gandreider**, or **Rob**, is one of Gilawfer's associates. He came to Greenglass House with the Waits in order to steal Violet Cross's haul, specifically the derrotero, from Clem and Georgie, on Gilawfer's orders. He was placed in charge of two of Gilawfer's other recruits, Mrs. Kirkegrim and Mr. Larven, who turned out to have double-crossed him.

## Biography

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

Rob came to Greenglass House, caroling with the Waits. He played the role of chimney sweep. Rob assisted in dunking Mrs. Kirkegrim into a bucket to put out the fire on her hood. He then went first up the stairs into Greenglass House, as it was tradition that the sweep be first. Lucky screamed at him to go right foot first, which was hard for him because he was 'left-footed' and eventually culminated in him having to hop on one foot up the steps. Rob then turned around and screamed at the other Waits to go right foot first, causing Lucky to comment on his childishness, chastening him.

Rob entered Greenglass House, and deemed that the coals in the fireplace were too hot for him to start. He introduced himself. Rob then spoke with Sylvester at the table, and Emmett sketched the two of them, with Rob agreeing to this on the condition that Emmett get him more dessert, which Emmett did. Rob advised Mr. Hakelbarend and Marzana, whom he called 'Spookypants', to her annoyance, as the chimney-cleaning would take a while. Mr. Hakelbarend thought they should seem more mysterious.

Clem asked what would happen next, and Rob asked if she was in a hurry for him to leave, and she assured him that she was not. The Waits discussed the traditions of the Waits, Lucky and Mr. Hakelbarend noting that the sweep was supposed to enter the house right foot first, which Rob insisted was difficult for him. Rob insisted that Lucky's reasoning for choosing Rob as the sweep was because Rob was the only one who was 'tall, dark, and handsome'.

Rob prepared to clean the chimney, collecting his stuff with the help of Mr. Pine, who did not seem excited about this. After Marzana and Mrs. Kirkegrim were hit on the head, Milo went downstairs to figure out why more help had not arrived. He found the living room air full of ash. Rob said cheerfully that the chimney had needed to be cleaned, and Milo wondered at how very much ash there was in the room. Mr. Pine suggested they let the ash settle, but Rob said that would make it worse. Mrs. Pine did not know if anyone had left the living room, as nothing more than the hand in front of her face could be seen after Rob began cleaning the chimney. When Milo came back downstairs, Lucky was ordering Rob around as he worked.

Rob volunteered to tell a story, starting with 'It was a dark and stormy', and Lucky interrupted to comment on how generic that was. Rob insisted that he'd meant the drink, but Lucky insisted that he should fix his mess. Clem expressed interest in the story, but Rob, mad at Lucky, pretended not to know, and stalked off. After Mr. Larven fell unconscious, Rob emerged, face blackened, and inquired what was going on. A puff of black smoke then emerged from somewhere and enveloped him, and Rob swore. When Milo came back in from outside, he saw Rob in the fireplace, with only his shins visible. Lucky later told Milo that if Rob died, it had been her fault.

Rob received a room on the fifth floor. During the night, Sylvester cleaned up Rob's mess, as he'd known Rob wasn't going to do it, and he'd wanted it done. When Rob arrived in the morning, he seemed to not have a care, and excitedly accepted a cup of coffee. Rob told Lucky that Sylvester had probably cleaned up the mess, and Lucky fixed Sylvester coffee. Rob woke Sylvester, who called Rob a jerk, but Rob then informed him that Lucky had brought him coffee. Rob later spoke lengthily to Mr. Hakelbarend, who seemed disinterested in the conversation. He later noted that he was a first-time caroler, asking Milo why Milo had not been able to deduce this. He said he had signed up on a whim, as he was not usually big on holiday traditions.

Rob suggested that they attempt to wake Mr. Larven. He later inquired whether Mrs. Pine had said 'stolen'. Rob insisted that they need not rush with the stories, as Mr. Larven was not yet awake. Rob helped wash dishes and put away leftovers, then got more coffee and sat down for stories. When Milo explained that there were mistletoe and holly berries in Mr. Larven's punch, Rob suggested that these were the secret ingredient. He then suggested that Mr. Larven had just needed a nap, and Mr. Larven got angry at Rob for his inability to clean a chimney. Rob blamed Lucky, but then decided that tradition should be blamed instead. When Mr. Hakelbarend said that many people thought the Liberty to be a madhouse, Rob yawned. During Lucky's story, Rob looked bored. Rob later sat near the cookies baking, and inquired about Georgie's new project. He asked if Milo was ready to tell his story, and Milo said he was. Rob later went up to his room.

Meddy followed Mr. Larven up the stairs and she and Milo listened as he and Mrs. Kirkegrim, their other suspect, argued about what was going on with the stolen things. A voice then interrupted authoritatively, and Milo had to figure out by process of elimination who it was, as he did not recognize the voice at all. He and Meddy realized, to their surprise, that Rob was in charge. Rob insisted that they figure something out, suggesting that they not threaten the children unless they needed to. Rob did not want to call in Gilawfer and those with him, since Georgie and Clem would recognize him and they would still be outnumbered. Mr. Larven and Mrs. Kirkegrim began to argue again, and Rob told them to quiet down. Milo and Meddy left, afraid of being caught, and heard no more.

Rob came downstairs. Emmett later pushed past him, as he was blocking the stairs, to show his customs ID. Rob agreed to stay, saying it was 'embarrassing'. Meddy told those that could hear her that Rob was one of the thieves. Rob continued to stay after Mrs. Kirkegrim left, as he could not do anything about her leaving. He and Mr. Larven appeared increasingly angry. When Mrs. Kirkegrim came back inside, Rob and Mr. Larven attempted to approach her, but she did not let them.

Rob poked a knife into Milo's ribs, hiding it with his sleeve so as not to reveal that it was only a butterknife. Rob insisted that they be given the things Milo had, and Mr. Larven started to get them but ended up, unknown to Rob, picking up a candlestick instead. Rob turned to see, but Meddy then appeared to him, to his surprise. Mr. Larven knocked Rob out with the cantlestick, and suggested that Emmett arrest Rob, for armed robbery, Mrs. Kirkegrim said, and Emmett agreed.

Milo thought that Rob had been Gilawfer's contact in the Liberty, who had then unknowingly recruited Cantlebone. Mrs. Kirkegrim, who was Cantlebone, expressed pity for Rob, who she said had never suspected. Emmett sat on Rob as if he was a bench. Emmett and Owen later dragged Rob onto the porch, in case he woke, so that he would not hear Mrs. Kirkegrim's explanation of the events and her being Violet Cross as well. The Waits prepared to leave, and as they did, they heard Rob shout, waking. Emmett took responsibility for Rob, who made threats on the porch for a while before giving up. Clem and Georgie checked on him occasionally, but he remained securely tied up. Emmett later untied Rob but handcuffed him, and instructed Rob to thank the Pines. Rob refused, saying he would only speak to his lawyer. Emmett threatened to sing loudly and badly the whole way back, and Rob said that this was 'unethical torture'. Emmett shoved him out the door, and they left.

### *The Thief Knot*

Emmett Syebuck told the Hakelbarends about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde. He needed their help, he said, to track down the suspects and find out which was guilty. Hickson Blount, Rose Mirassat, and **Rob Gandreider** were Thad's three suspects, and Rob's jail cell had been unlocked a few weeks ago and he had walked out. He mentioned that Rob was a resident of the Liberty, and thought that Rob would know that the Liberty would not tolerate a kidnapping, but might not know that Winston Hyde could not pay a ransom. Marzana mentioned the time Mr. Larven had knocked Rob out. Mrs. Hakelbarend sent Mr. Larven to look for Rob, and thought he would return quite soon.

When Marzana got home from school, she found that Mr. Larven had brought Rob. Rob insisted that Mr. Hakelbarend would always be a cop, but then did not say it again, because, Marzana commented, he wasn't stupid. Mrs. Hakelbarend promised to turn Rob in if he did not clear his name. Rob insisted that he would have to be stupid to commit a crime right after he'd gotten out, but Mrs. Hakelbarend pointed out that he could have been let out to help with it. After Mr. Larven pointed out that he couldn't have picked the lock on the cell, he said resignedly that he'd been let out by an officer called Flynn and told to lie low, then return to the Liberty. Mrs. Hakelbarend informed him that he had been set up as a red herring, and Rob swore on the honor of his Liberty warrant that he had not done it. Rob promised to stay visible, then was given an ice pack and sent out. It turned out that Flynn had been bribed and blackmailed, then let Rob out and suggested him as a suspect. Mrs. Hakelbarend suspected that Hickson and Rose, the other suspects, would also be red herrings. Marzana told the members of the Thief Knot about Rob, and Meddy identified him as a fidlam ben, a general crook.

## Physical appearance

Rob dressed as a a sweep for the Waits, claiming he'd been chosen for the part because he was 'tall, dark, and handsome'. Rob has a goatee and pointy beard.

## Personality and traits

Rob seems careless when with the Waits, and childish. However, he turns out to actually be in charge of the operation to steal Clem and Georgie's haul, one of Gilawfer's henchmen. Rob goes so far as to hold a knife on Milo's chest to get the derrotero, but does not succeed. Rob has no chimney-cleaning skills, covering the entire living room in ash and still having soot on him the next morning. However, he does not seem to realize how much problems he causes with this, though perhaps it was on purpose, to cause chaos and disorder as a cover for the heist.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Rob Gandreider****.