The cramped van smelled of sweat and cheap cologne. Molly, hunched over a map spread across her knees, traced a route with a chewed-up pencil. Bill, sprawled on the floor amidst a tangle of wires and tools, fiddled with a lockpick. "This is madness, Molly. A kid's party? Seriously?" Bill's voice held a note of incredulity. "Don't be such a wuss, Bill. Think about it - an entire room filled with presents, ripe for the taking. Besides, who's gonna suspect a thing? Adults aren't exactly known for their observational skills at these things." Molly's voice dripped with sarcasm. Bill sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Okay, okay. But how do we even get in? We'll stick out like sore thumbs." Molly tapped the map with her pencil. "That's the beauty of it. We go in disguise. You'll be the magician, I'll be the clown." Bill's eyes widened in horror. "A clown? No way! I hate clowns!" Molly chuckled. "Relax, it's just a costume. You'll be wearing a wig and a red nose. Nobody will recognize you." Bill grumbled but nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But what about the parents? Won't they be watching us like hawks?" Molly shrugged. "That's why we need a distraction. While you're performing your pathetic magic tricks, I'll slip into the back room and grab the presents." "And what about the kids?" Bill asked, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. "They'll be too busy stuffing their faces with cake and ice cream to notice a thing," Molly said with a smirk. Bill rubbed his chin, considering the plan. "It's risky. But it might just work." Molly clapped him on the back. "That's the spirit! Now let's get this show on the road." They climbed out of the van, adjusting their disguises. Molly's clown costume was garishly bright, with a red nose and oversized shoes. Bill, on the other hand, sported a cheap magician's outfit and a fake mustache that kept threatening to fall off. They approached the house, the sounds of laughter and music spilling out into the street. Molly took a deep breath, plastering a wide grin on her face. "Showtime," she whispered. They pushed open the door and were greeted by a wave of noise and color. Children ran around screaming, parents chatted amongst themselves, and a harried-looking hostess tried to keep everything under control. Molly and Bill made their way through the crowd, Bill stumbling over his own feet in the bulky magician's outfit. Molly, meanwhile, scanned the room for the door that led to the back room. Finally, she spotted it. "There," she mouthed to Bill. He nodded, taking a deep breath and preparing for his performance. Molly slipped away, disappearing into the back room. It was piled high with presents, just as she had hoped. She quickly began stuffing them into a large duffel bag. Meanwhile, Bill was attempting to perform a simple card trick. He fumbled with the deck, dropping cards left and right. The children giggled, but the adults were getting restless. Just as Molly was about to finish packing the presents, she heard a shout from the other room. "Hey! What are you doing?" She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been caught.