"I can't believe we're doing this," Molly whispered, scanning the vibrant garden filled with screaming children, amused parents, and a pony dressed as a unicorn. "A kids' birthday party?" "Hey," Bill shrugged, "it's not my fault the birthday girl's dad is some big-shot CEO with connections to the black market." "Yeah, but...a pony?" Bill smiled mischievously, "Well, that's our diversion, Moll. Who doesn't love a good pony show?" "And how exactly are you planning to pull that off?" "You'll see. Just watch." Molly rolled her eyes as she melted into the shadows of the perfectly trimmed hedge. "I swear, Bill, if this goes south--" "Relax!" he interrupted, grinning. "Operation: Birthday Surprise is a go!" \*\*\* A few minutes later, Bill emerged from their hiding spot, decked out in full clown regalia - giant shoes, a red nose, and all. Molly watched in disbelief as he waddled into the heart of the party, juggling colorful balls and making fart noises that sent the kids into fits of laughter. The parents exchanged glances, clearly confused yet entertained by the unexpected arrival. As Bill performed, Molly slipped unnoticed into the house, locating the treasure trove of presents in the living room. "Hello, my pretties," she murmured, eying the mountain of brightly-wrapped gifts. \*\*\* Outside, Bill took things up a notch. With a flourish, he whipped out a wand and pointed it at the pony. "Abracadabra, turn into a unicorn!" he shouted. There was a puff of smoke, and suddenly the pony was covered in sparkles. The children gasped, utterly entranced. Bill bowed, soaking up the applause. He gestured grandly towards the house. "And now, for my grand finale..." In the living room, Molly had filled two large sacks with presents. Just as she was about to make her escape, she heard a loud voice booming from the garden. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present...THE DISAPPEARING PONY!" Her eyes widened in horror. The plan had not mentioned anything about making a pony disappear. Suddenly, a series of terrified whinnies filled the air. The children shrieked in delight, convinced it was part of the act. Inside the house, Molly panicked. "Bill, you idiot!" she hissed into her walkie-talkie. "You weren't supposed to make it disappear!" "It's fine! I've got this!" came Bill's cheerful reply. Molly groaned. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head. \*\*\* Back outside, the smoke cleared to reveal an empty space where the pony once stood. The children stared in awe. Bill swallowed hard, maintaining his smile despite the sweat trickling down his face. "Ta-da!" he announced weakly. Before anyone could react, he darted towards the hedge where Molly was waiting, sacks of presents slung over her shoulders. "Go, go, go!" he urged. Together, they sprinted away from the house, the sounds of confused partygoers fading behind them. As they reached their van, Molly glared at Bill. "I told you this was crazy!" Bill just laughed. "Come on, Moll. We got the goods, didn't we?" She couldn't argue with that. Shaking her head, she hopped into the driver's seat, and they sped off towards their next big score.