Run: 2026-07-09-01KX40WKE4S2VZQYWJG3FNG2P2

Molly crouched behind the hedge and peered through the frosting-smeared window. Inside, a dozen children shrieked around a table shaped like a pirate ship. Balloons bobbed overhead, a magician sawed a stuffed rabbit in half, and an enormous pile of wrapped presents glittered beside the punch bowl. Bill adjusted his black wool cap. “Excellent. The target is exposed.” “The target is a seven-year-old’s birthday party.” “Exactly. No security.” “There’s a woman at the door checking invitations.” “Amateur security.” “She has a clipboard.” “Professional-grade amateur security.” Molly glanced at the paper in her hand. “Our invitation says we’re ‘Molly and Bill, the birthday twins.’” “Twins?” “I panicked.” “You’re thirty-four.” “And you’re thirty-seven. The disguise is daring.” Bill peered again. “I’m concerned about the clown.” “That’s not a clown. That’s a father wearing face paint.” “He has a red nose and a suspiciously cheerful hat.” “Everyone at a children’s party has a suspiciously cheerful hat.” “Fine. What’s the entry strategy?” “We walk in.” Bill stared at her. “That’s your strategy?” “It has worked for me at museums, weddings, and one mayoral debate.” “You were removed from the debate.” “Eventually.” Molly pointed toward the side gate. “We slip around back, enter through the kitchen, grab the presents, and exit before anyone notices.” “Children notice everything.” “Then we distract them.” “With what?” Bill produced a paper bag. “Forty-seven temporary tattoos.” Molly looked inside. “These are all tattoos of accountants.” “They were on clearance.” “Why would a child want an accountant?” “Because children are fascinated by people who understand money.” “Bill, children are fascinated by dinosaurs, sugar, and breaking things.” “Then we’ll give them the tattoos after the heist.” “That is not how distraction works.” “It is if the tattoos are disappointing enough. They’ll spend ten minutes complaining.” Molly studied the garden. A row of tiny plastic ducks led to the back door. “Those ducks are probably an alarm.” “They’re bath toys.” “At a party, everything is an alarm.” Bill stepped forward and immediately squeaked. He froze. “The duck attacked.” “It’s under your shoe.” “I knew it was hostile.” The kitchen door swung open. A little girl holding a cupcake stared at them. “Are you magicians?” she asked. Molly smiled. “Yes.” Bill nodded. “We specialize in making presents disappear.” The girl gasped. “Can you make my brother disappear?” “Absolutely,” Molly said. “Temporarily,” Bill added. “Preferably,” Molly corrected. The girl pointed inside. “My brother is hiding under the gift table because he ate the candles.” Molly and Bill exchanged a look. “Lead the way,” Molly said. They followed her into the party, where the children immediately surrounded them. “Do the present trick!” shouted one boy. “Now!” demanded another. Bill whispered, “This is going beautifully.” Molly whispered back, “We haven’t stolen anything.” “Not yet.” She grabbed the nearest wrapped box and held it over her head. “For my first trick, this present will vanish!” The children cheered. Molly tucked it behind her coat. “See?” A girl frowned. “It’s behind your coat.” Molly froze. Bill swept forward. “Aha! And for my second trick, I’ll make Molly vanish!” “Bill,” Molly hissed. He pulled a tablecloth. The punch bowl tipped, the magician’s rabbit escaped, and every balloon popped at once. In the sudden silence, the birthday boy crawled out from under the table. “Can you make the cake disappear?” he asked. Molly looked at the presents, the exits, and Bill. “Change of plan,” she said. “We steal the cake.”