Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNFHWZVF2Y3Q2GZJC09ANAV

"So the target is the Henderson house on Maple Street," Molly said, tapping a photograph pinned to the corkboard. "Birthday party for some kid named... Trevor?" "Trevor. Age seven. Forty-three guests, a clown, and a bouncy castle," Bill added, not looking up from his phone. "According to my cousin's daughter who follows the family on Instagram." "Convenient. What's the security situation?" "Front door has one of those decorative wreath cameras, nothing recording. Back door leads to a kitchen that connects to the living room where all the presents will be under the tree." "Under the tree. In front of forty-three kids and their parents." "Here's the beauty part." Bill finally looked up with a grin. "The party runs from two to five. Parents will be exhausted, sugar-high kids will be screaming, and at exactly four-fifteen, the clown has a fifteen-minute magic show where everyone gathers around." "So we slip in during the magic show." "We slip in during the magic show. Classic distraction technique." Molly circled a point on the blueprint. "And the exits?" "Three. Front door, back door through the kitchen, and a side door that leads to the garage. But I say we go in through the garage, grab the presents from under the tree, and exit through the kitchen." "Garage door is automated. How do we get in?" "I've got that covered." Bill held up a small device that looked like a garage door opener. "Bought it at a garage sale last week. Turns out the Hendersons have the same model as the guy who sold it to me." "Bill, that's genuinely impressive." Molly raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?" "The catch is the presents. We're talking about forty-three kids who each brought a gift. That's a lot of wrapping paper to juggle." "We don't need to take everything. We're not amateurs." "I thought we were taking all the presents?" "I said we were stealing the presents. I meant the good ones. The iPads, the gaming consoles, the expensive toys. We leave the clothes and the books." "So we're cherry-picking." "We're being efficient. And less conspicuous. You try carrying forty-three gift boxes out of a house in the middle of a birthday party." "Fair point." Bill scratched his chin. "What about the parents? What if someone catches us?" "We wear costumes. Clown makeup, maybe. Blend in with the chaos." "We're not exactly the clown type." "Neither am I, but I've got a wig and a nose. We go in, grab the high-value items, and leave before Trevor opens his presents." "Stealing a seven-year-old's birthday presents. This is a new low, even for us." "Bill, we stole a penguin once." "That penguin was worth eight thousand dollars and you know it." Molly laughed and shook her head. "Okay, here's the plan. Saturday, two-thirty, we arrive in the party supply van I borrowed from my cousin. We blend in, wait for the magic show, then execute." "Execute. Nice heist terminology." "I've been practicing." She grinned. "Ready to ruin a seven-year-old's birthday?" "Absolutely not. But I'm absolutely ready to steal his presents."