Molly leaned back in her creaky, vintage armchair, sipping a mug of what she insisted was chamomile tea, though Bill suspected it was something stronger. The dim glow of the antique lamp cast shadows on the walls of their cluttered, book-lined hideout. Bill, sitting on the edge of a rickety sofa, fidgeted with a small, silver lock pick he had filched from his last job. "Okay, Molly, I’m all ears. How exactly do we break into a children’s party and steal all the presents without getting thrown in the slammer?" Bill asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Molly grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "First of all, it’s not breaking and entering; it’s more like—sophisticated party crashing. Second, we’re not stealing from kids; we’re rescuing gifts from the grasping paws of entitled brats. It’s a public service." Bill raised an eyebrow. "Right, because nothing says 'public service' like turning a blind eye to the law." "Details, details," Molly waved a hand dismissively. "Here’s the plan: the party is at the fancy Hillview Manor. It’s a huge place with plenty of hiding spots and a ridiculous number of adults who will be too busy gossiping to notice us. The presents will be piled up in the living room, just waiting for us to liberate them." Bill leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And how do we get past the security?" Molly pulled out a folded piece of paper and unfolded it with a flourish. "I have the floor plan, and I’ve been doing some recon. There’s a service entrance in the back, near the kitchen. We’ll use that to sneak in. Once inside, we’ll blend in with the staff. I’ve already got fake ID badges." Bill’s eyes widened. "You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?" "Almost everything," Molly admitted. "The tricky part is getting in and out without drawing attention. We’ll need to time it perfectly. The guests will be distracted by the cake cutting, so that’s when we make our move." Bill nodded, starting to get into the spirit of things. "What about the loot? How do we get it out without looking suspicious?" Molly’s grin widened. "We’ll use a couple of oversized duffel bags, disguised as catering supplies. We’ll stuff them full of presents and carry them out through the service entrance. Easy peasy." Bill chuckled. "And what do we do with all the presents once we’ve got them?" Molly leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "We donate them to the local children’s hospital. Think of all the kids who won’t get Christmas presents this year. We’re not just thieves, Bill; we’re Robin Hoods of the party circuit." Bill’s skepticism melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. "I like it. It’s got a certain ... charm." Molly clapped her hands together. "Great! We’re a team, then. Now, let’s go over the details one more time. You’ll be the muscle, I’ll be the brains. Got it?" Bill stood up, feeling a rush of excitement. "Got it. Let’s do this." Molly rose as well, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Just remember, Bill, we’re not just stealing presents. We’re giving them a second chance to bring joy to kids who really need it. It’s the perfect crime." Bill nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "The perfect crime, indeed. Let’s go make some magic happen." They clinked their mugs together, a silent agreement sealing their plan. The room buzzed with the energy of a well-laid scheme, the kind that could change the lives of a few unlucky kids and make a couple of thieves feel like heroes for a day.