"Bill, I've cased the joint. Twelve kids, one clown, and approximately forty-seven presents stacked under a dinosaur piñata." "Forty-seven? You counted?" "Of course I counted. I'm a professional." Molly adjusted her binoculars, peering through the suburban kitchen window. "The birthday boy's turning seven. Prime age for expensive electronics." "What's our entry point?" "Bounce house." Bill lowered his coffee mug slowly. "Come again?" "The bounce house. It's positioned directly against the back door. We slip in through the mesh window, bounce twice for momentum, then tumble straight into the kitchen." "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." "You said that about the mall Santa job, and we cleared eight grand." "We also got banned from every Macy's in the tri-state area." "Details." Molly pulled out a crumpled paper. "I've got the guest list. Little Timmy's parents invited the entire second grade class plus cousins. That's serious gift potential." "What kind of security are we looking at?" "One grandmother, half-asleep in a lawn chair. Two moms running the face-painting station. The dad's manning the grill but he's already three beers in." "And the clown?" "Amateur. Balloon animals only, no juggling. Zero threat." Bill rubbed his temples. "Molly, we're talking about stealing from children." "We're stealing from their parents, technically. The kids just unwrap stuff. We're really doing them a favor, teaching them about life's disappointments early." "That's twisted logic, even for you." "Look, little Madison's getting a tablet. Connor's getting a drone. These seven-year-olds have better tech than us. It's wealth redistribution." "It's grand larceny." "Tomato, to-mah-to." Molly checked her watch. "Cake time in thirty minutes. That's our window. Everyone crowds around for the song, we slip in and out." "What about our disguises?" "Already handled." She held up two shopping bags. "You're a pizza delivery guy who got the wrong address. I'm a mom picking up her kid early." "Why do you get to be the mom?" "Because you'd look ridiculous in yoga pants." "Fair point." Bill sighed. "What's our exit strategy?" "Same as entry. Back through the bounce house." "While carrying forty-seven presents?" "Forty-six. I'm leaving the educational toys. We're criminals, not monsters." "How thoughtful." "I know, right?" Molly grinned. "Oh, and I brought these." She produced two juice boxes from her pocket. "Why?" "Hydration is important. Plus, they're the good kind with real fruit juice." "You're literally insane." "Criminally insane, sure. But think about it, Bill. One afternoon, one bounce house, one massive score. We could retire." "To where, exactly? Prison?" "Pessimist. Look, in and out, five minutes tops. What could possibly go wrong?" Bill stared at the birthday party tableau before them, then at his partner's eager face. "Everything. Everything could go wrong." "That's the spirit! Now drink your juice box. We've got presents to steal." "I need new friends." "After this job, you can buy some."