The stale air in the parked sedan smelled faintly of onions and stale coffee. Bill sat with a hand resting on the unlocked door handle, his other hand tracing invisible patterns in the dust on the dashboard. Through the windshield, a bouncy castle bobbed in the backyard breeze, a strange, multicolored island amidst the manicured lawn. "Status report," Bill whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. "Perimeter is active," Molly replied from the backseat. She was currently dismantling a slide whistle, looking for the slide within the slide. "I see the swing set is manned by a biological entity wearing a plastic fireman costume." "That's The Firefighter. Don't engage," Bill said, leaning forward. "He has a hose. We don't have a strategy for hoses. A water breach could ruin the electronics in the Nintendo Switch." "It’s a Wii. It’s already ruined by poverty." "The point stands. He is a variable we cannot calculate. What about the main house?" "The doors are unlocked, but the deadbolts are hidden," Molly said, finally snapping the whistle apart with a satisfying *click*. "It’s amateur hour. It’s like the owner trusts the mailman more than he trusts us." "The mailman is a career criminal, Molly." "Maybe. Anyway, the prize table is exposed. I can see the foil wrapping on the Mountain Dew hoverboards." "Gold," Bill breathed, reaching into his jacket to adjust the holstered... a fuzzy handcuffs key. "Plan B is null and void. We execute the main channel." "How are we getting in?" "The dog. The Golden Retriever named Buster is asleep under the picnic table. That creates a gap in the defensive perimeter of three point five feet." "Buster drools." "It’s the price of entry," Bill said, checking his watch. "I have the 'shiny object diversion'." "What is it this time?" "A laser pointer. I’ve tested it. He loves chasing the dot." "Be careful with the dot, Bill. Don't get bitten." "I’m not going to get bitten. I’m a professional." "That doesn't stop you from getting hurt." "I’ll be fine. You head for the craft table. The window is open. Grab the glitter glue and whatever is inside the piñata. We need volume." "The piñata contains candy," Molly said, cracking her knuckles. "We don't do candy. It makes a mess. We only want the goods." "Just grab the stick." "The plastic one?" "Yes." "Good. I’ll be back in forty seconds." "Take your time. The Firefighter is looking for his drink." "Good distraction. Don't trip." "I never trip." The back door opened with a quiet thud, and Molly vanished into the night like a shadow. Bill waited, counting heartbeats in his head, preparing to release the laser into the wild.