Just in case you might think that the blond depicted in today's graphic is Pete because Pete's line is the one quoted, you'd be wrong. The blond is -
Book Two/Issue One/Page 3 - Pete: 'I AIN'T SEEN THE
PLACE IN THE FOUR YEARS THE STATE SENT ME ON
VACATION, AND IT WAS FALLING APART THEN!' - Fred (and I didn't pick any of his lines for the slideshow, the reasoning behind which will become apparent once we see what type of lines he gets versus the ones Pete gets).
Pete is actually the guy who's shadowed. Though don't read anything "shadowy" about Pete into that because in a panel that's been skipped he has been seen in the light along with Fred and Sam Evans, who's wearing a Santa hat, no less. Sam has the distinction of being the first established and beloved DS character to appear in Book 2, but you won't see him until I post Page 3...
As we'll see as the scene progresses, Pete and Fred are planning to break into and steal something from "AN OLD HOUSE NEAR A MANSION." Gee, I wonder what "OLD HOUSE" that might be?