Run: 2026-02-19-01KHVP771SQDY4EPG539KNGKTN

The surveillance van smelled faintly of stale diapers and cheap binocular leather. Molly adjusted her tactical headset, peering through the tinted passenger window at the sprawling suburban lawn. Bright balloons tied to a mailbox fluttered in the afternoon breeze. Beyond the pristine white picket fence, a dozen hyperactive second graders sprinted in endless circles across the freshly cut grass. She tapped a heavily manicured fingernail against the dashboard clipboard. "What is our entry point?" Bill lowered his heavy telephoto lens and pointed toward the massive structure dominating the yard. "The bouncy castle inflatable ramp." Molly nodded slowly. She made a sharp mark on her schematic diagram using a red pen. "And the security detail?" He wiped a bead of nervous sweat from his forehead. "Two exhausted parents and a teenager dressed as a pirate." They studied the teenager. The sad teenager was currently trying to make a balloon sword while being kicked in the shins. "We need a distraction. Something loud." Bill cracked his knuckles, a sound like dry branches snapping. "I could punch the clown." She shot him a withering glare beneath her dark aviator sunglasses. "No violence, Bill. We pop the unicorn piñata early. Total chaos." A wide grin slowly spread across his face as he realized the sheer brilliance of the tactical maneuver. "Candy everywhere. A sugar frenzy." She slid a tiny dart gun out of her raincoat pocket. "Exactly. While the miniature targets scramble for loose taffy, we secure the payload." He looked over at the massive pile of colorful wrapping paper resting under a striped canopy tent. Doubt flickered briefly in his dark eyes. "Are we really stealing Legos from a seven year old?" Molly grabbed him by the collar of his black turtleneck, pulling him close. "That kid is spoiled, Bill. Look at the size of that gift table." He peered through his binoculars again. "I see a pony." She sighed deeply, massaging her temples to ward off an impending headache. She hated working with amateurs. "We are not taking the pony. Just wrapped boxes. What is the extraction protocol?" He recited the escape plan from memory, sounding remarkably proud of himself. "Snatch the goods, throw them in the decoy stroller, and walk right out the front gate." She released his collar and checked her waterproof diver watch. The birthday boy was currently face deep in chocolate icing. The optimal window of opportunity was fast approaching. "Do you have the juice boxes?" He patted the tactical belt strapped tightly around his waist. "Grape and apple. Chilled." Molly pulled a dark knit ski mask down over her face. She chambered a tiny suction cup dart into her plastic weapon and kicked the heavy van door wide open. "Good. If any toddlers approach the perimeter, roll a juice box away from the drop zone to distract them." They stepped out into the blinding sunlight, ready to ruin a birthday. This was going to be the easiest job of their entire criminal careers, assuming nobody cried loudly.