Run: 2026-07-07-01KWZ4B2SRMDY6CMV7KFH1QMNY

Molly crouched behind the azalea bushes, peering through binoculars at the birthday party setup in the backyard. Bill sprawled beside her, his belly sinking into the mud. "So what's the plan?" Molly whispered. "Plan? We wait till they cut the cake, then we grab the presents and run." "That's your plan? That's not a plan, Bill. That's a cry for help." "What's wrong with it?" "Where do I start? What about the parents? There are at least fifteen adults out there." "So?" "So some of them look fit. That guy by the grill has arms like tree trunks." "He's flipping burgers. His hands are greasy. He can't catch us." "What about the bouncy castle? We have to go past it." "Why is that a problem?" "Kids in bouncy castles are unpredictable. One bounce and they fly into you." "Are you seriously afraid of being taken down by a seven-year-old on a sugar high?" "I'm cautious. There's a difference." Bill groaned. "Fine. We go around the bouncy castle." "And the clown?" "What clown?" Molly pointed to a man in rainbow suspenders making balloon animals. "That clown. He's between us and the presents." "It's a kids' party clown. He probably can't even tie his shoes." "He's making swords out of balloons, Bill. Those kids are armed now." "They're balloon swords." "Balloon swords still sting. And he's making them fast. One per kid. We'll be outnumbered by tiny swordsmen." "You're overthinking this." "Someone has to. You wanted to wear ski masks to a child's birthday party in July." "Masks are professional." "Masks are how we end up on a registry." Bill sat up, leaves sticking to his shirt. "So what's your brilliant plan?" "First, we wait for the magician. He goes on at three. While every kid watches him pull rabbits from hats, we slip in through the side gate." "Then what?" "I grab the presents. You create a distraction." "What kind of distraction?" "I don't know. Fall down. Make noise. Be yourself." "Very funny." "The presents are in a pile by the picnic table. I grab the big ones first." "What about the small ones?" "We leave the small ones." "Why?" "Because I'm not a monster, Bill. Some kid should get something." "We're stealing from children and you're worried about being fair?" "I have standards." Bill shook his head. "This is a mistake." "Every job we do is a mistake. That's our brand." "What if we get caught?" "By who? The clown?" "By the police." "We'll be long gone before anyone notices. These parents are exhausted. They're running on cake and hope." Molly checked her watch. "The magician starts in ten minutes. Get ready." Bill wiped mud from his pants. "I can't believe we're doing this." "Believe it. And remember—grab the big presents. Leave the gift cards." "Why?" "Because I'm not stealing a child's gift card. That's cold." Molly pressed a finger to her lips as a toddler wandered toward the bushes. They both froze. The toddler stared. Molly waved. The toddler waved back, dropped a juice box, and waddled away. "Now," Molly hissed. "Move."