“Are you sure about this, Bill?” Molly whispered, peeking through the gap in the fence. “It’s a children’s party! We’ll be outnumbered by kids and clowns!” “You worry too much, Molly. Look at all those presents! I mean, who doesn’t want a pile of plush toys and rainbow cake?” Bill replied, adjusting his baseball cap. “Plush toys? Last I checked, we’re not ten years old. What do we need a giant unicorn for?” “Think of the resale value! The plush toy market is booming!” Bill said, gesturing enthusiastically with his hands. “Sure, if you can make it out before the piñata drops!” Molly shot back, folding her arms. “What’s the plan, genius?” “Alright, we’ll go in during the cake cutting—everyone’s going to be distracted,” he said with a wink. “Simple diversion strategy!” “By ‘we,’ you mean me, right? You’ll be the lookout again?” She raised an eyebrow. “I see how you’re playing this.” “Hey, I can be sneaky! Remember the last job?” Bill protested. “Yeah, sneaky like a hippo in a tutu trying to tiptoe!” Molly snorted. “Okay, that was one time,” Bill added defensively. “You can’t hold that against me forever!” “Not forever, just until I’m old and gray,” she said, rolling her eyes. “What about the clowns?” “Clowns? Bah! Just a bunch of painted faces and balloon animals,” he scoffed. “I’ll handle them.” “Right, because your charm really worked on those mimes last month,” Molly teased. “How’d that go again? Oh, right—terribly!” “Those mimes were unusually hostile!” Bill protested. “But clowns? Clowns are different. Just smile and nod, and we’ll be fine!” “Smiling at a clown just makes them want to juggle you,” she deadpanned. “You know they’re unpredictable!” “Exactly! So you just take advantage of that chaos. While they’re juggling kids and cake, we swoop in!” Bill waved his hands dramatically. “Like superhero thieves?” Molly giggled. “What’s our catchphrase? ‘Here come the candy criminals!’?” “Better! ‘Balloons beware, it’s a heist with flair!’” he joked, striking a pose. “Yeah, that would definitely not raise suspicions,” she chuckled. “Yet somehow make us the next viral TikTok sensation.” “I’m just saying, the likes alone would be worth it!” Bill winked. “Isn’t that what matters these days?” “I’d prefer not to go viral from being arrested on children’s party surveillance footage,” she replied dryly. “But you keep focusing on the views, Bill.” “Fine, fine! Serious talk. After the cake, while they scream for candy from the pinata, we grab the presents from the table. In and out, right?” “Right. Just don’t trip over your own feet this time. Or mine!” Molly added, nudging him. “Hey! I think that was the clown’s fault for throwing confetti everywhere!” he exclaimed. “Blame the three-ring circus!” “Blame anyone but yourself, got it. Classic Bill.” She rolled her eyes, then glanced back through the fence. “Alright, I’m in. But if we get caught, I’m blaming it all on your balloon distraction.” “Deal! Now let’s get those toys!”