Molly ducked under the velvet ropes of an obnoxiously large inflatable castle—an establishment dubbed "Jumpy Fun Land." She glanced around, ensuring none of the hyperactive toddlers or their distracted, smartphone-engrossed parents noticed her. Satisfied, she waved Bill over with a conspiratorial grin. "You sure about this, Bill? We're actually going to crash a kids’ party?" Bill shuffled up, dubious, holding the tiny walkie-talkie they’d snagged from a discount bin which somehow, despite odds, worked. "Listen, Molly," Bill whispered back, eyeing a toddler juiced up on punch and cake. "It's the perfect crime. Who suspects two adults at a funhouse?" Molly squinted at the mass of bright balloons and giggling children. "Yeah, perfect until we get swarmed by a horde of sugar-high munchkins." They both ducked behind a giant plastic clown shoe that was part of the decor, watching as children barreled down slides. Molly pulled out a crumpled blueprint of the party layout, which was really just a sketch on a napkin. "Right, so the gifts are in the treasure chest near the Pirate Cove,” she indicated a spot on her 'map'. “We sneak in during the magic show when all eyes are on the 'wonderful' Wizard Wizzo." Bill snorted. "You didn’t find 'wonderful' the least bit sarcastic in that flyer?" "I try to reserve judgment." Molly rolled her eyes. “Okay, during Wizard Wizzo’s rabbit hat trick, we grab the loot. Easy peasy.” Auntie Em, the venerable birthday boy's guardian, suddenly loomed near. "Are you two here with the balloon art? We’re ready for you!" Molly didn’t skip a beat. "Absolutely! Bill, get the pump." Bill blinked but rummaged in his bag, miraculously pulling out a legitimate balloon pump. Auntie Em drifted away, mollified. "This better work," Bill muttered, beginning to inflate a shaky poodle balloon. "Never made anything beyond a snake myself." "I’ll handle the poodle, you watch Wizard Wizzo’s cue." The party progressed with the chaotic energy only sugar and party games could inspire. Finally, the grand introduction for Wizard Wizzo boomed over the speakers, and children swarmed to the stage set up on the other side of the lawn. Molly and Bill edged closer to the Pirate Cove. The treasure chest sat temptingly unguarded. Mismatched wrapping paper twinkled under the sun, each gift a child's dream piled into a pirate’s bounty. “On three?” Bill whispered, glancing nervously at the distracted crowd. “Just like we planned.” Molly nodded. They dived in, Molly’s arms scooping up gifts while Bill kept a lookout. Suddenly, a voice cut through their haste. "Mommy, why are they taking our presents?" Bill froze. Molly looked up to find a pint-sized party-goer, Batman cape askew, staring at them with wide, incredulous eyes. “Pirate game,” Molly improvised, sweat trickling down her back. “We’re the baddies. But you see, we always return the treasure.” The child pondered this, then nodded solemnly, “Okay, but I get to help!” As they returned the gifts under the strict supervision of their new pint-sized overseer, Molly whispered, “You know, crime’s really not paying off today.” Bill, surrounded by kids now eager to join their ‘pirate crew’, gave her a wry smile. "At least we're not walking the plank.” Molly chuckled as she handed a large, bow-adorned box back to Batman. "True, but let's stick to banks next time." Bill nodded in agreement. "Yup, less pirates, more profit."