Run: 2026-09-02-01M1H9Z07TBZQBDFSKQ6FM6T6E

Molly spread the birthday invitations across the van dashboard like stolen battle plans. The target was a backyard in Maple Court, crowded with balloons, sugar, and gifts. "The piñata is the weak point," Molly said. Bill blinked. "The piñata?" "Kids stare at piñatas. Adults stare at kids. Nobody watches gifts." Bill tapped his pencil. "What about clowns?" "There is no clown." "Always a clown." "No actual clowns?" Molly checked the invitation. "There is a magician. He arrives at two." "Then we arrive at one." They studied the crayon map. The garden had three entrances: gate, hedge gap, and bouncy castle. Bill took the hedge. Molly took toddlers. "I am not doing toddler duty again," Bill said. "You have gentle hands." "I gave a child a balloon and he proposed." "That is your reputation." Bill sighed. "What is the signal?" "When I sneeze twice, grab presents." "And if it is allergies?" "Then grab presents and antihistamine." Molly had prepared for every likely obstacle, including fence locks, enthusiastic uncles, and a possible karaoke machine. She had timed the karaoke risk at four minutes, longer if a grandmother remembered ABBA. Bill carried a coil of rope, though he could not tie anything except a shoelace, and even that was negotiable. Their escape vehicle was a silver hatchback with a dent shaped like a duck, which Molly refused to explain. The driveway would be blocked by a clown car, if there was a clown, and a bouncy castle, if there was not. She had drawn red arrows on the map, then erased them because red attracted attention, she said, though Bill suspected she simply disliked the color of ambition. She had also rehearsed a cover story. Molly was an assistant to the deputy coordinator of festive logistics. Bill was her silent intern, which suited him because he forgot words when children looked at him with hope. If questioned, Molly would speak in acronyms until the adult wandered away. If trapped, Bill would offer the banana. It was, he insisted, fruit. The plan needed timing. Molly would enter as a cupcake helper. Bill would hide by the recycling bins, which made him feel judged. He would sneeze once to confirm survival. "Why are we stealing from children?" Bill asked. Molly frowned. "We are stealing from insurers, through children." "That sounds worse." "It sounds professional." The magician worried them. Magicians noticed things, especially missing doves. Molly promised no magic would be recruited unless useful. Bill packed sacks, a wagon, a dog whistle, and a banana. "Emergency," Bill said. "Define emergency." "A monkey." "There will be no monkey." "There is always a monkey." "There is a magician." "Same family." Molly folded the map. "No heroics. We take gifts, leave piñata, and avoid bouncy castle." "I am professional." "You bounced for reconnaissance." "It was research." She started the van. Tomorrow Maple Court would learn the real party danger was not sugar, magicians, or piñatas. It was two thieves with crayon maps, bananas, and no respect for wrapping paper.