Run: 2026-04-25-01KQ2F4RV88MZQW4T67VB3KGRE

Molly crinkled her nose at the glittery invite. “It says here, ‘No parents allowed. Only the fun ones.’” Bill rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s a trap. It’s a trap for people like us.” “We’re not parents, Bill. We’re thieves.” “Yeah, but we’re also fun. That’s even worse.” Molly tossed the invite onto the car’s dashboard. “The target is the Gift Pyramid. It’s a three-tiered structure. Eight-by-ten feet. Mostly craft kits and those singing plush llamas. The big prize is a fire-engine red remote-control monster truck at the apex.” Bill squinted at the backyard layout she’d drawn on a napkin. “You want me to go in through the bouncy castle?” “It’s the only way. The moms are set up on the patio. They have wine and a line of sight to the front gate. But nobody watches the castle.” “I’ll be bouncing up and down for ninety seconds. I’ll vomit.” “You’ll be fine. I’ll create a diversion with the magician.” “We don’t have a magician.” “I’ll be the magician. I’ve got the rabbit. And a false bottom for the gifts.” Bill tapped the napkin. “And me? What am I? Hufflepuff? No, wait—I’m the guy in the castle.” “You’re the grab-and-go. While I’m making a balloon poodle that’s secretly a packable sack, you bounce up, snag the truck, and then fall out of the castle into the shrubbery.” “What if a kid’s in there with me?” “Then you have a hostage who will cry for a juice box.” Bill ran a hand through his hair. “I hate children. They’re sticky and they smell like fruit snacks.” “Good. Your disgust will make you faster.” “And the llamas? The ones that sing?” “We dump them in the pool for a decoy. Let the parents think it’s a prank by a bored twelve-year-old.” Bill leaned back. “Why do we even want this truck? It’s for a kid.” “Because it’s worth eight hundred dollars on the collector’s market. And the seven-year-old birthday boy is named Chadwick. He already has one.” “We’re terrible people.” “We’re comedic heist people. There’s a difference.” “Is there?” “Yes. We don’t hurt them. We just confuse them. And we leave a note.” Bill perked up. “What’s it say?” Molly pulled out a laminated card from her jacket pocket. It read: “Sorry for the mix-up. This was for my nephew. – The Bouncy Castle Guy.” Bill laughed despite himself. “That’s not even a name.” “It’s a concept.” She checked her watch. “The magician starts at three. You ready to bounce?” “I’m ready to regret.” He picked up the napkin. “One more thing. What’s my code name?” “Bill.” “That’s not a code name.” “It is when you’re wearing a red wig and a fake mustache. No one will think it’s you.” “I have the mustache now.” “Then it’s already working.” She opened the car door. “Now get out. I need to practice my rabbit levitation.”