Molly leaned forward, resting her elbows on the Formica table and propping her chin on her hands, "So, Bill, have you finished snooping around that children's party yet?" She waved her cigarette lazily in the air, sending a smoke ring drifting towards the ceiling of their hideout underneath an abandoned movie theater. Bill sat down across from her, his face scrunching into a scowl. "Well, ol' Molly, you better believe I have. Place is a fortress. Wall-to-wall kids and more balloons than I've ever seen in my life." He picked at a single wedge of pizza, "Parents are out of control. They're even screening guests. Can't just waltz in, fill a sack, and stroll out." Molly blew out another ring and watched it writhe its way upward. "Alright then, let's brainstorm. What's the weak spot in this operation?" "Well, the food service. Caterers are bringing in treats from outside." Bill motioned towards the packet of napkins, revealing an intricate diagram he'd scrawled during his surveillance. "They create a bottleneck. One person carrying a tray, no security guard gawking here, just moms trying to grab brownies." She squinted at the hastily made map, "Hmm, I like that. But what about the birthday girl? I saw her on one of your photos, couldn't miss that tiara. She's getting presents when, during the party, or at the end when they sing 'Happy Birthday'?" Bill shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "During the party, under the watchful gaze of what I'm guessing are grandmothers. Real tough customers." "Guess that's a problem," Molly said, running a finger along her teeth, "unless..." Her eyes gleamed with a sudden idea. "Let's infiltrate undercover as clowns. I'll do balloon animals. A crowd magnet." Bill arched his brow. "Clever as always. But the presents are on display? We'll look suspicious snatching them one-by-one." "Enter stage right: The balloon bouquet." Molly smirked and snapped her fingers. "I make up a balloon show, assemble the gifts inside a giant balloon sculpture, then pop it at the end and scoot. Nobody notices it in the chaos. We'll be out the door before the glittering dust settles, let alone they miss a few presents." Bill nodded, excitement rising. "Except," he paused, chewing his lip, "the birthday girl's coming up. Too close for comfort." "Ah, but that's where plan B comes in, my friend." Molly's arm waved in grand circles. "In my balloon shtick, I'll hypnotize her. She'll think she's in a balloon forest, and you and I will tiptoe through the tulle." Bill hooted, slapping the table. "Like a damn dream. But what about the locked front door? The caterers have a pass key, but no riffraff does." "The ground crew." She tapped her chin, pulling a small object from her coat. "Magnetized credit card. We'll see to it one caterer accidentally leaves it on a fridge. We'll be in and out before they notice." Bill chuckled, a grin on his face, "And then we'll relish our stolen treasures?" "Absolutely," Molly agreed, puffing on her cigarette and blowing a third ring. "Absolutely." The two thieves exchanged a knowing look. Their plan set, they finished their pizzas in contented silence, visions of stolen toys dancing behind their smirking eyes.