"Okay, Bill, focus," Molly whisper-shouted, crouched behind a hydrangea bush. "We're here for one thing: the presents. Nothing else." Bill adjusted the ski mask over his face, the eyeholes slightly askew. "Right, but what if there's cake?" He licked his lips in anticipation. "Kids' parties always have cake." Molly rolled her eyes. "Forget the cake, Bill. We're not here to get diabetes. It's a heist, not a buffet." "Alright, alright," Bill grumbled. "But if there's a candy bar..." "No candy bars! We're professionals," Molly hissed, checking her watch. "The party's in full swing. We make our move in three... two... one..." They sprinted from the bush, darting toward the backyard where the sound of children's laughter mingled with pop music. Molly unrolled a blueprint as they ran. "We hit the gift table, grab everything, and jet out the side gate." Bill nodded, panting slightly. "Got it. Hit, grab, jet. Like a ninja." As they neared the fence, a loud bark echoed through the air. Molly froze. "What was that?" "Just a dog," Bill said with a wave of his hand. "Just a dog?" Molly's voice pitched up. "You know I'm allergic to dogs!" "Oh, right. Sorry, Mol." Bill patted his pockets. "I've got some antihistamines somewhere..." "Never mind that now," Molly said, taking a deep breath. "We're committed. On my count." They scaled the fence and dropped into the party zone. Streamers and balloons filled the space, with a large table laden with colorfully wrapped gifts at the far end. "There's our target," Bill said, eyes gleaming. Molly nodded. "Okay, we do this quick and quiet. Ready?" Suddenly, a clown on stilts wobbled past, nearly knocking them over. Molly ducked, pulling Bill down with her. "What the...?" "False alarm," Bill chuckled. "Just a really tall clown." They waited for the coast to clear, then dashed to the gift table. Molly started stuffing presents into a large sack. "Hurry, these bags are heavier than they look." Bill grabbed an armful of boxes. "Got any birthdays coming up?" "Just keep moving," Molly urged, scanning the area for any signs of parents or the dog. A little girl in a princess dress approached them, her eyes wide and curious. "Hi, are you here to play the treasure hunt game?" Molly froze, a gift halfway into the sack. "Uh, yeah, honey. We're the... uh, treasure hunters." Bill nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! And we've found the biggest treasure of all!" The girl clapped her hands. "Yay! Can I help?" Molly and Bill exchanged a panicked glance. "Sure, sweetie," Molly said, her mind racing. "Why don't you go find more treasure for us?" The girl skipped away, and Molly let out a sigh of relief. "That was close." "Too close," Bill agreed, stuffing the last of the presents into the sack. "Let's blow this Popsicle stand." They hoisted the sack over the fence and were about to climb over themselves when the dog, a fluffy poodle, came bounding toward them, barking joyfully. "The dog!" Molly squeaked, her eyes watering. Bill quickly popped an antihistamine into her mouth. "Swallow that and run!" They scrambled over the fence just as the dog started to sneeze from Molly's allergies. On the other side, they paused to catch their breath, the sack of loot between them. Molly grinned at Bill. "We did it. We actually did it." "We're the best damn treasure hunters in the business," Bill declared, high-fiving her. They disappeared into the afternoon, the sound of children's laughter fading behind them, leaving a trail of discarded gift wrap and a very confused poodle.