Run: 2026-09-02-01M1H5J4XHDTKW3KN58QMXG69F

Molly spread the blueprints across the card table, weighting the corners with coffee mugs and a half-eaten donut. "Bill, we've been over this. It's a birthday party. For a seven-year-old." "I know what it is, Molly. I'm asking why we're doing it." "Because there are forty presents in that living room, and Mrs. Hendricks buys everything on the kid's wishlist twice, because she forgets she already bought it. It's a goldmine." "It's a bouncy castle heist." "You say that like it's a bad thing." Bill rubbed his face with both hands. "Molly, I once robbed a bank in Zurich. We have a reputation." "You have a reputation. I have a mortgage. Get the scoop of the cake frosting situation ready, because that's our window." "Our window is cake frosting." "The kid blows out the candles at three o'clock sharp. Every adult in that house will be huddled around the table singing that awful song. That's when we go in through the sliding door, grab the present pile, and wheel it out in the wagon." "The wagon." "The wagon, Bill. Little Timmy's Radio Flyer. It's been sitting in the yard for two weeks. Nobody will think twice about a wagon." "They'll think twice when it's full of his own birthday presents." "They'll think it's a parent tidying up. Parents are always tidying up. That's the genius of it. We're not intruders, we're chore-givers." Bill leaned over the blueprints and pointed at a rectangle. "What's this?" "The bouncy castle." "Why is the bouncy castle marked with an X?" "That's our exit strategy." "Molly." "If we're spotted, we jump the fence and land in the castle. Have you ever tried to chase someone across a bouncy castle? It's impossible. You just bounce helplessly in place while the thief makes a graceful exit over the far wall." "And you've tested this." "I tested this." "Of course you did." "Bill, do you want the forty presents or not? I've already found a fence for the toys. He runs a daycare, cash only, no questions. It's beautiful. The stolen goods go to children. It's practically charity." "It's practically a felony." "Misdemeanor at most. They're toys. You can't grand larceny a stuffed dinosaur." "You absolutely can grand larceny a stuffed dinosaur." "Then it's a challenge. Are you in or are you out?" Bill was quiet for a long moment, staring at the wagon diagram. "The kid gets his wishlist twice, right? Duplicates?" "Guaranteed duplicates. Mrs. Hendricks has a problem and we're the solution." "So we take the doubles, and the kid still opens presents all afternoon." "Now you're seeing the vision. Victimless crime." "The fence at the daycare is still profit, though." "Bill, a business has overhead. You of all people should respect a profit margin." Bill picked up a donut, considered it, and set it back down. "Fine. I'm in. But I want the dinosaur." "You can have the dinosaur. I want the giant coloring book set." "Deal." He grabbed his jacket. "One condition. If anyone asks why two adults are wheeling a wagon out of a child's birthday party, I'm doing the talking." "Honey, you've never done the talking in your life." "I'm doing the talking, Molly. I've been practicing in the mirror. I have a dad voice now." "Show me." He cleared his throat. "Someone's got to take these inside, sport." Molly stared at him for a full three seconds. "That was terrible." "You said you wanted a dad voice." "I want a convincing dad voice, not a hostage negotiator. We'll work on it in the car."