Run: 2026-02-25-01KJBHJNGZE0Q1PZF50Q87KD93

Molly adjusted her binoculars while Bill checked his watch. They stood on the roof of the neighbor's garage, overlooking the bright yellow balloons tied to the oak tree. The bass from the party thumped up toward them like a heartbeat, vibrating through the shingles beneath their sneaker soles. Is it time yet she whispered. Five minutes. Relax, the clown isn't on shift. What if he is Weve got the net. The net is for socks, Bill. Not a thousand dolls. Its sturdy enough. You bought it at a garage sale. Its vintage. Its ripped. Details. Molly lowered the binoculars and wiped grease from her chin. The rain had just stopped, leaving the pavement slick and shiny under the streetlights. Outside the glass of the living room, children screamed in unison. Okay, look, the strategy is simple. We blend in. We're wearing masks. Face masks. The ones that cover your eyes Yes. People are distracted by the face painting. Who does face painting The clown. Right. So we walk in. We walk in past the bouncer. There is no bouncer, there's a dad in a cape. Then we slip by the dad. Bill, he's eating punch. We wait for a distraction. A distraction like what A balloon. Perfect. You're the distraction. That's not my job description. It is now. Molly stood up, dusting off her knees. They needed to be careful. The fence was high, but the gate was usually left ajar by the distracted mother who had ordered too much pizza. She checked her pockets for the lockpicks Bill had insisted on bringing. Okay, listen closely. We go for the big pile. Under the tree. The one by the punch bowl? Yes. The dad is there. He's full. He won't move. Full of punch? Sugar coma. He's asleep. I didn't say sugar coma. I said drunk. Bill stood up and grabbed the heavy net from the crate. He tested the mesh, pulling at the edge with a grim expression. Let's do this. I'll get the net. You grab the box cutter. I'm not using a box cutter inside a birthday party. What am I gonna use My teeth You have no teeth. I'm thirty-five. Then use the scissors. I don't have scissors. Take the scissors from the craft table. The craft table is guarded. By who A toddler. We're thieves. We don't fear toddlers. One of them has a laser pointer. Okay. Laser pointer. Noted. Molly checked her pockets again. Do we have the bags I have three trash bags. Trash bags For twenty grand worth of toys Recyclable materials are cheaper. This is a robbery, Bill. It's a salvage operation. Bill looked out at the crowd beginning to form. They're about to sing. Great. The distraction. We move now. Hold on. Molly, move. Give me one second to fix my cape. It's a hoodie. It's got a cape hood. Just go. Molly sighed and looked back at the van parked down the street. Fine. On three. Wait. What Is that a monkey Is what a monkey The party. Look closely. Bill squinted. A monkey Yeah. At the party. The clown has a pet monkey. Bill grabbed his net. A monkey steals better. Not this monkey. Then we distract the monkey. How Give it a banana. We don't have a banana. We are going to need a banana. We are going to need a lot of bananas. Then let's go get the bananas. We don't have time. We always have time for snacks. Molly. Okay, okay. Molly moved toward the window of the house. Ill drop the rope. The rope is tied to a lamp post. It stretches. It won't. You underestimate the physics of this neighborhood. Physics won't stop me. Bill, stop moving the truck. I'm idling. Don't idle. I'm cooling the engine. Just shut it off. Then we can't hear the music. Were inside. Right. Shut it off. Molly If we get caught. Were thieves, Bill. We get caught. But if we get caught by kids. We say we're lost. Lost Lost in the gift wrap. I hate this plan. Me too. Why are we here Its the tax write-off opportunity. There is no tax write-off for stolen Barbie dolls. There is. I read it on a blog. I believe everything I read. Me too. They looked out. Ready Ready. Wait. What Is that a laser Its a star projector. Close enough. Go Wait. Now. Okay now.