Molly pored over the blueprints of the birthday boy's house, her eyes scanning the layout for any potential entry points. Bill lounged on the couch behind her, flipping through a stack of photos they'd taken of the house during a reconnaissance mission a few days prior. "Okay, I think I've found our way in," Molly said, tracing a path through the ductwork with her finger. "We can slip in through the air vent above the kitchen, and from there it's a straight shot to the living room where the presents are." Bill looked up from the photos, a skeptical expression on his face. "You want to crawl through the ductwork? Have you seen the size of the vents on this place? We'll be like a couple of gerbils in a Habitrail." "It's not ideal, I'll give you that," Molly admitted. "But it's the best option we've got. The parents have got the whole backyard locked down with security cameras and motion-sensitive lights. This is our only way in." Bill tossed the photos aside and stood up, stretching his long frame. "And what's the plan once we're inside? Just start snatching presents left and right like a couple of lunatics?" Molly shot him a withering look. "Of course not. We'll be sophisticated thieves, Bill. We'll blend in with the party, maybe even do a few magic tricks for the kids to distract them while we make off with the loot." Bill raised an eyebrow. "You're going to do magic tricks for the kids?" "Hey, I've got skills," Molly said defensively. "I was a children's party entertainer for three years in college. I can make a mean balloon animal, okay?" Bill chuckled. "I bet you can. 'Hey, Timmy, look! A balloon giraffe! Oh, and by the way, Mom, can I interest you in a brand-new iPad?'" Molly playfully rolled her eyes. "You're not taking this seriously, Bill. This is a high-stakes operation. We're talking about hundreds of dollars' worth of toys and gadgets." "I'm taking it plenty seriously," Bill said, his expression turning serious. "I just think we should be prepared for things to go sideways. These are kids, after all. They're unpredictable. What if one of them decides to investigate the air vent and finds us hiding up there?" Molly's face fell as she considered the possibility. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to improvise. Maybe we can tell them we're, uh, vent elves or something." Bill face-palmed. "Vent elves?" "It could work," Molly insisted. "Kids love elves. And who knows, maybe we'll even get a few of them to help us load the presents into our getaway car." Bill shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "You know what, Molly? I think we might just pull this off after all."