Robert Short

Robert Short is a major antagonist and POV in Our Binding End.

Short owns two popular cafes in Nowra, as well as a struggling restaurant, where he handles all his business. Unbeknownst to the public and the police, Short operates as crime kingpin Sam Downs' primary underboss, and has done so since the early 2000s.

History
Little is known of Short's history due to his incredibly private life.

Short, upon his promotion from Captain to Underboss - began flooding Downs' ear with innovative ideas on how to expand the somewhat crumbling empire - and to extend it's longevity as well as legitimacy. Short rekindles contact with his childhood friend, Raymond Wismayer, and over the course of a year, builds a closeness with him that he grows very fond of. Short soon begins development plans with Wismayer to invest in council projects, public parks and the education system in Nowra. Wismayer, a successful investor and accountant - unknowingly becomes consigliere to Sam Downs. Downs gives instructions directly to Short, who then takes the plans to Wismayer, using his advice to move foward carefully.

As the development begins, public interest grows in Wismayer, as Short prefers to stay in the shadows.

In the midst of developing three separate projects for Nowra, Wismayer is suddenly charged with a double-homicide - which sends the Downs Crime Family into a slow collapse. Wismayer is eventually convicted of the murders, and sentenced to life in prison. Believing Wismayer to be completely innocent and being framed as a possible sting operation - a guilt ridden, furious Short plans on attacking the convoy transporting Wismayer. Downs manages to talk him out of it, as it would only bring more attention to the case. Wismayer is then killed en-route to the prison by the police in an apparent attempted getaway.

An emotionally distraught Short brings the news to Downs, insisting this was a definite police conspiracy. Downs caves in to Short's claims, and agrees the police must be punished - and Wismayer ''avenged. ''

Our Binding End
In Part Four, Short considers leaving the life of crime and running his business legitimately, but the pressure of Sam Downs and the weight of his actions keep him from reforming, and instead, he remains Underboss of the crime family. At the end of Short's arc, he is seen visiting a old, sickly Downs. It is implied that he will die fairly soon, leaving the open ended question of whether Short uses Downs' death to leave the organisation, or if he inherits it himself, becoming the Don.