Molly crouched behind the inflatable dinosaur, watching as approximately thirty screaming children chased each other around the backyard with foam swords. She pulled out her binoculars and surveyed the chaos. "This is it, Bill. The mother lode," she whispered into her earpiece. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Bill's voice crackled through the static. "Because from where I'm sitting in this tree, it looks like a medieval battlefield down there." "Focus, Bill. Look at that present table. I count at least twenty wrapped packages, and that's just the ones I can see from this angle." "Molly, I have to ask. Are we really about to rob a seven-year-old's birthday party?" She adjusted her black ski mask, which was already making her sweat in the afternoon sun. "It's not robbery, it's redistribution. Besides, look at this place. They have a bouncy castle shaped like a pirate ship. These people can afford to lose a few gifts." "I'm pretty sure that's not how ethics work," Bill muttered. "And why are we wearing ski masks in eighty-degree weather? We look ridiculous." "Professional standards, Bill. We discussed this." A particularly loud shriek erupted from the bouncy castle as three kids launched another child into the air. "Okay, new problem," Bill said. "How exactly are we supposed to get to the present table without walking through a war zone of sugar-crazed children?" Molly squinted through her binoculars again. "I see an opening. The birthday boy just got distracted by the cake. Most of the kids are following him toward the house." "Most of them?" "There are still about ten kids defending the bouncy castle, but they're occupied with their siege warfare. We can make our move." "This is insane, Molly. We're career criminals afraid of children." "They're not just children, Bill. They're children hopped up on birthday cake and party favors. Do you see that kid with the plastic sword? He's got the dead eyes of a Viking berserker." Bill sighed audibly through the earpiece. "Fine. What's the plan?" "You create a distraction on the east side of the yard. Maybe trip over something loudly. I'll grab the presents from the west side while they're looking at you." "Why do I always get distraction duty?" "Because you're naturally clumsy, Bill. Work with your strengths." The sound of rustling leaves came through the earpiece, followed by a loud crash and Bill yelping, "I wasn't ready yet!" Every child in the yard turned toward the fallen tree branch where Bill was tangled in his own legs. "Close enough," Molly muttered, and sprinted toward the unguarded present table.