"Molly, this is the easiest job we've ever had," Bill whispered as they crouched behind a cluster of balloons. "Easy for you to say," Molly grumbled, her eyes glued to the chaos of sugar-fueled kids running amok. "I'm the one wearing this ridiculous clown costume." "Hey, the invite said it was a costume party, didn't it? You're just blending in." "Very funny. Remind me again why we couldn't have gone for something subtle like a cat burglar outfit?" Molly adjusted her rainbow wig, trying to keep her scowl hidden beneath the layers of face paint. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, no one suspects the clowns." Bill's grin was almost audible as he peeked over the balloons, scanning the room for their target. "So what's the plan?" Molly asked, following Bill's gaze toward the towering mountain of colorfully wrapped gifts on the far side of the room. "We wait until the magician starts his big finale, then we make our move." Bill nudged Molly gently with his elbow. "You cause a distraction by releasing those balloon animals you've got stashed away in your bag, and I'll swipe the presents." "Oh, so I'm the decoy now? Wonderful." Molly rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the hint of amusement creeping into her voice. "Come on, Molly, you love a good distraction." "True, but this is a children's party, remember? They're supposed to be happy occasions." "And they will be! Think of it this way: we're teaching them valuable life lessons about materialism." Bill flashed her a cheeky grin. Molly shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're ridiculous, you know that?" Before Bill could reply, the lights dimmed, and an explosion of glitter announced the arrival of the magician. The children squealed with delight, their attention firmly fixed on the stage. "This is it," Bill whispered, "get ready." As the magician began his grand illusion, Molly took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the balloons. "Who wants a balloon animal?" she called, releasing a torrent of brightly colored creatures into the crowd. The children swarmed around her, clamoring for their favorite shapes, and Molly worked quickly, her fingers twisting and shaping the balloons with practiced ease. Amidst the cacophony of delighted shrieks and giggles, Bill slipped silently through the shadows, making a beeline for the pile of presents. With the skill of a seasoned professional, he scooped up armfuls of gifts, depositing them into the giant sack slung over his shoulder. It was almost too easy. Within moments, Bill had emptied the entire table, and he glanced over at Molly, giving her a subtle nod. Molly grinned back at him, releasing one final balloon animal into the sea of excited faces before making her escape. She slipped out a side door, joining Bill in the alleyway behind the party venue. "That was smooth," she admitted as they hurried away from the scene of the crime, their loot-filled sack bouncing merrily between them. "See? I told you we'd make a great team." Bill laughed, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of their success. "Don't let it go to your head," Molly warned, though she couldn't deny the surge of exhilaration coursing through her veins. "We still need to fence all these presents." "Ah, but that's a problem for tomorrow," Bill declared, slinging the sack over his shoulder with a flourish. "For now, let's just enjoy the spoils of our victory." And with that, Molly and Bill disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of laughter and stolen gifts.