The Present Heist Molly nervously fiddled with the lock pick as she and her partner in crime, Bill, crept through the darkened backyards, drawing ever closer to the house where a rambunctious children's party raged on. The incessant shrieks of giddy laughter and shrill voices filled the night air, making Molly's head throb with anticipation. "Are you sure this is going to work?" she whispered, her voice quivering slightly as they approached the perimeter fence. "Breaking into a kids' birthday party? I mean, that's got to be some kind of new low, even for us." Bill scoffed, his weathered face splitting into a wry grin as he peered over the chain link at the colorful balloons bobbing in the warm breeze. "Aw c'mon Mol, don't be such a softie! It's just a bunch of snot-nosed brats too wrapped up in their own fun to notice a thing. Besides..." He reached into his jacket and produced a sleek pistol with a silencer screwed onto the end, giving it an affectionate pat. "...we've got this baby if anyone gets too nosy. Now hurry up and pop that lock already." Molly rolled her eyes, but did as she was told, jamming her pick into the rusted padlock with practiced motions. After a few tense seconds, the mechanism clicked open and Bill shoved the gate inward with a metallic creak. "Well well, looks like your skills haven't gone soft in your old age," Bill remarked with a wink as he vaulted over into the yard, landing in a crouch beside a towering stack of presents piled up near the patio. Molly followed after, brushing dirt from her black catsuit. "Oh shut up," she groused, glancing around warily. "We need to make this quick and clean. Get the gifts and let's blow this popsicle stand before the little tykes come running out to play pin the tail on the crook." Bill had already started rifling through the brightly-wrapped boxes, tossing aside the cheap plastic junk to focus on the heftier parcels. "Aye aye, Cap'n. You keep watch and I'll pilfer the plunder!" As her partner began stuffing his sack with the choicest booty, Molly scanned the backyard, hand hovering near her holster. The clamor from inside remained undiminished, punctuated by a