Run: 2026-06-01-01KT1GF32ZCHFR1EZV9WMDWVEV

Molly crouched behind the shrubbery, binoculars trained on the bouncy castle like a hawk stalking a particularly festive field mouse. Her partner in crime, Bill, fumbled with a clipboard covered in crayon-stained sticky notes. "Alright," Molly whispered, "operation info dump is a go. Target: birthday party. Objective: every single present in a ten-foot radius of the cake." Bill squinted at the clipboard. "Molls, I'm looking at the guest list. There's a kid named Bubbles bringing a puppy. Are we stealing the puppy?" "We're stealing everything, Bill. That's the whole point of the job." "Right, but the puppy specifically—" "Focus. What do we know about security?" Bill flipped a page that was clearly colored in with purple crayon by someone under the age of seven. "One parent, two grandparents, a clown named Mr. Noodles, and a magician who I think is also a clown. Possibly the same clown." "Clowns are a problem," Molly said, nodding seriously. "They're unpredictable. One of them pulls a rope, another one squirts water. Total chaos agents." "So we're skipping the clown." "We're not skipping anything. We're blending in. I downloaded a clown costume last night. It's in the bag." "You downloaded a clown costume." "I have a guy." Bill raised an eyebrow but decided this was not the hill he was going to die on today. He looked back at his notes. "Okay, entry point. The gift table is by the piñata, which is hanging from that oak tree. But there's a suspicious amount of parental hovering." Molly grinned, and it was the kind of grin that made pigeons nervous. "That's where you come in, my friend. You distract the adults with your charm." "My charm?" "Your charm. Tell them you're a children's entertainer. Tell them you do balloon animals. Tell them you once performed at Buckingham Palace." "I did once perform at Buckingham Palace," Bill muttered, offended. "Exactly. Perfect backstory. While you're twisting poodles out of long balloons, I sweep the gift table. Should take four minutes, maybe five if there's a pony involved." "And if a parent asks who I am?" "Tell them you're Mr. Noodles' cousin. Mr. Noodles from Ohio. Everyone trusts an Ohio clown." Bill stared at her. "That's the most unhinged thing you've ever said, and I once watched you negotiate with a parking meter." Molly shrugged. "The meter owed me money. Look, are you in or out? Because I've got seven other thieves on speed dial, Bill. Seven." "I'm in. I'm in. Just promise me one thing." "What?" "If there's a pony, we don't take the pony." Molly paused, considering. "No promises about the pony. Vicious little creatures." She patted him on the shoulder, and together they watched the party unfold like a beautiful, glittering target. Somewhere inside, a child shrieked with joy, and Molly's heart was full of terrible intentions.