Run: 2026-02-16-01KHK9749JXD1J98P61PVNRSCD

Molly and Bill crouched behind a hedge, watching a backyard children’s party throb with balloons and syrupy pop music. A clown inflated a sausage dog; the kids applauded as if witnessing the birth of comedy. Beyond the sprinkler, a folding table sagged under neatly wrapped presents, each bow screaming, Take me. Bill’s beanie still carried glitter from last week’s job, so he tucked it into his pocket like contraband. Molly traced the side gate with her eyes, timing the patrols of parents wielding paper plates and suspicious kindness. Somewhere, a piñata waited, blind and judgmental. The birthday song began rehearsing. "Rule one, Bill: act festive." "Hard when my soul wears burglary pants." "Smile anyway. We enter during the birthday song, grab gifts, exit before candles die." "Which gifts?" "Big boxes first, then the dinosaur ones." "Dinosaur ones for you?" "For the kid; I’m not a monster." "What about unicorn paper?" "Glitter is fingerprints that never stop talking." "If the clown sees us?" "Then we tell him we’re party magicians and vanish with the loot." "Should we leave a card?" "Yes: Love, Aunt Molly and Uncle Bill." "Sounds honest." "It’s a crime; honesty is optional. Ready?" "My knees shake confetti. Go."