The van smelled like stale coffee and regret, which Molly had come to recognize as the official scent of their operations. She spread the hand-drawn map across the dashboard, squinting at Bill's artistic interpretation of the Henderson residence. "Is that a dog or a swimming pool?" she asked. "It's the bouncy castle. I told you, this is a dinosaur-themed party. That's a T-Rex bouncy castle." "It looks like a potato with teeth." Bill snatched the map back, wounded. "You know what, Molly, I don't see you contributing any reconnaissance artwork. I sat outside that house for three hours. The neighbors think I'm a predator now." "You probably are on some kind of list." "Several, actually, but that's not the point." He jabbed his finger at the potato-dinosaur. "The point is we go in through the back gate at exactly two-fifteen. That's when they do the piñata." Molly raised an eyebrow. "Why does the piñata matter?" "Because twenty-seven children hopped up on sugar will be beating a paper-mâché donkey with sticks. Nobody's watching presents during candy chaos. It's basically a controlled riot." She had to admit, it was solid reasoning. Bill might draw like a kindergartner with a hand tremor, but he understood human nature. Specifically, he understood that humans became temporarily insane around free candy. "What about the parents?" "Wine. Lots of wine. I watched the mom unload three boxes from Costco. Those adults will be clustered around the drink table complaining about their mortgages." Molly pulled out her notebook, running through the checklist. "Okay, so we need the big duffel bags. The presents are supposedly top-tier this year." "The Henderson kid is turning seven. His dad just made partner at some law firm. We're talking premium loot, Molly. Gaming consoles. Those robot dogs that actually walk around." "Please tell me we're not doing this for robot dogs." Bill grinned, showing the gap where his left canine used to be before the incident they'd agreed never to discuss. "The fence says he's got a buyer for anything still in original packaging. Clean profit, no questions asked." "There are so many questions, Bill. Starting with why we're robbing children." "We're not robbing children. We're robbing their parents' choices. These kids don't need fifteen presents each. We're teaching them about disappointment early. It's practically community service." Molly rubbed her temples. The headache was starting right on schedule. "You've really thought about this." "I've had a lot of time. Remember, I was watching that house for three hours." "Right. The predator surveillance." "Reconnaissance surveillance. Very different." She folded the map, accepting her fate. This was somehow her life now. Breaking into birthday parties. Stealing from seven-year-olds. Partnered with a man who couldn't draw a bouncy castle to save his soul. "Fine. Two-fifteen. Back gate. During the piñata massacre." Bill started the van's engine, which coughed twice before surrendering to life. "This is going to be beautiful," he said. Molly seriously doubted that.