Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7T1YBRB5R733J1VM1KJJ6

“Right, so, Nightingale Elementary, Saturday, three o’clock. Confirmation on the bouncy castle?” Molly asked, tapping a chewed-up pen against a greasy napkin covered in diagrams and circled exclamation points. “Confirmed. Pink, inflatable leviathan. Balloons – primary colours, naturally. And a disturbingly cheerful clown named ‘Pip’ who’s apparently handing out ‘party favors’,” Bill replied, leaning back in his booth at the ‘Rusty Sprocket’ diner, nursing a lukewarm coffee. “It’s…optimistic.” “Optimistic is good. Less like a hostage situation, more like a sugar-fueled heist. We want chaos, not screaming children,” Molly countered, drawing a thick line through ‘hostage situation’ on her napkin. “So, the presents. We’re after the…everything.” “Everything’s a bit broad, isn’t it? Like saying ‘gold’ when you mean ‘gold bars’.” “I’m saying a mountain of brightly wrapped toys. Action figures, dolls, slime, those glow stick bracelets that cause permanent aches – the works,” Molly insisted, gesturing wildly with the pen. “Mrs. Henderson – the mother of little Timmy Henderson, the target – she’s a collector. Surplus Christmas gifts, mostly. Forgotten birthdays. The whole tragically adorable mess.” “You’re describing a human landfill, Molly. A landfill of plastic and disappointment.” “Don't be dramatic. Think of the resale value! We’ll be swimming in vintage Lego.” “Lego is not swimming. It's meticulously arranged in tiny, overpriced bins.” Bill sighed, stirring his coffee with excessive force. “And what about Pip? The clown? He’s a variable we haven’t accounted for.” “Pip is a distraction. A highly irritating, balloon-animal-based distraction. I’ve been watching him. He creates a disproportionate amount of squeaky animal noises. I’m thinking we leverage that.” “Leverage squeaks? How?” “We overload the system. A judicious application of noisemakers – air horns, cat toys, anything that can generate a sustained, ear-splitting shriek. He’ll be overwhelmed. It’s foolproof.” “Foolproof? Molly, you once tried to disable a laser grid with a feather boa.” “That was a tactical miscalculation! This is different. This requires…precision squeaking.” She looked intensely at Bill. “Look, I’ve mapped out the exit route. Through the snack table, under the bouncy castle, then out the emergency fire exit. Minimal visibility, maximum loot.” “The emergency fire exit? Seriously? That’s practically begging to be noticed.” “It’s the most aesthetically pleasing emergency fire exit. It’s framed with pine cones and tiny plastic flags. It’s... charmingly alarming.” “Charmingly alarming is my phrase. Okay, okay. Pine cones and flags. Noise cannons. Let’s just…try not to traumatize any small children.” “Trauma is optional. Loot is mandatory.” Molly grinned, tapping the napkin decisively. “Now, about those glow stick bracelets…”