“Are you sure about this, Moll? I mean, it’s a kids’ party. That feels a little... underhanded, even for us.” “Bill, darling, you wound me. We’re master thieves, not saints. Besides, have you researched this case? Half the toys are probably made of plastic and come with six-month warranties. We’re talking top-shelf, child-marketed merchandise here. Think designer teddy bears, coded remote-controlled cars, maybe even a drone with a miniature unicorn horn.” Bill pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve seen enough happy birthday songs and smeared frosting to last a lifetime. Can’t we just go after something less… saccharine?” “Saccharine? Please. This is a goldmine, Bill! We’re talking birthday caviar. They’ll be too busy stuffing mini pizzas in their faces to notice a couple of extra-friendly clowns sneaking around for a bit. Besides, I have an elaborate plan involving a convincingly sad balloon animal and a strategically placed coin purse.” "You're literally going to use a puppy made of rubber and a pocketful of nickels to distract parents at a kid's birthday party?" Molly patted his arm dismissively. "Trust me, darling. It’s genius. The ones they’re panicking about are the 'cute' puppy balloons. I’ll whip everyone into a frenzy with a mangled, drooly monstrosity, then while they’re arguing over whose kid gets to be the first to sob, we’ll waltz out with the goodies." Bill stared at her, his eyes wide. “This is madness, Moll. Absolute, joyful, sugary madness. But… I’ve got to admit, I’m kind of into it." "There you go! Now, let’s talk logistics. Which clown pants are best for optimal present-stuffing capacity, and where exactly is the weakest point in that inflatable bouncy castle they have out back?" "Bounce castle infiltration?" "Bill, with your size and my agility, it’s a playground in waiting. El Niño and Pepperoni will be begging for our autographs once they learn about our escape route." "We're not letting a seven-year-old threaten us, Moll. Besides, why are we calling ourselves El Niño and Pepperoni?" Molly grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Because, darling, it’s the perfect alias for a couple of notorious candy-cane snatching clowns. Now, pass me that bouncy castle instruction manual."