Run: 2026-09-02-01M1HK2FBAVJ4SJ52QDME26ABZ

The van smelled like cheese and regret. Molly spread a crayon drawing across the dashboard. The target was a suburban backyard. The gate was painted blue and locked only by habit. Two folding chairs guarded the cake table like plastic soldiers facing a war they would lose. Molly had studied every birthday party on the block. She knew the parents bought identical drinks, identical napkins, and identical mistakes. Bill had studied only the bakery window, but he was learning. Their wagon sat in the grass, already waiting with great appetite. "Is this the party plan?" Bill squinted at a stick figure vomiting cake. "It looks like a hostage negotiation with frosting." "It’s the layout," Molly said. "Fourteen bouncy houses, one ball pit, and a piñata shaped like the mayor." "God bless democracy," Bill muttered. "Where are the presents?" "Under the inflatable dragon, left side, near the cotton-candy cart." "Excellent. We arrive as clowns?" "Mime duo. Silent, unsettling, legally untrackable." Bill clapped once. "I can be silent." He leaned in. "What’s our cover?" "Entertainment. I do face painting. You handle distractions." "I handle distractions?" "You cry loudly." "Ah. A specialty." Molly tapped the diagram. "When the parents are distracted, we load the presents into the wagon." "A wagon with a unicorn sticker and the words 'Emergency' in marker." Bill considered. "Can we steal the unicorn too?" "Focus." "Right. Timeline?" "Party starts two. Presents opened three. We strike at two fifty, because that’s when the magician fails his first trick and everyone checks their phones." "The magician is our inside man?" "He’s my brother." Bill whistled. "Is he reliable?" "He’s a magician. He lies for a living." "Then he’s perfect." Molly rolled the map. "We need gear." "No, glitter." Bill gasped. "Glitter is diabolical." "It gets everywhere, ruins rugs, and parents flee the house." "Then we take the presents while they vacuum?" "You’re a monster." "I’m efficient." She checked her watch. "You’re carrying the decoy cake." "It’s fake. Foam. But if the clown walks in with cake, people watch him." "I’m wearing foam?" "No, you’re carrying it near your chest." "And if I fall?" "Then we lose a great man and one very convincing lemon." Bill stood, nearly hitting his head. "I’m going to need gloves." "Latex. We don’t want fingerprints on the toys." "What if a toddler sees us?" "Offer a balloon." "What if he wants a dinosaur?" "Give him a balloon dinosaur." She tossed him a mask. "One more thing. No stealing the piñata." Bill caught it, offended. "I was going to ask." "You have a weakness for candy." "I have a weakness for opportunity." "That’s worse." Molly opened the van door. "Let’s go. Dragon under, wagon ready, tears everywhere." "Shall we call it Operation Gift Snatch?" "We shall not." "What about Operation Birthday Bandit?" "We are professionals." Bill climbed out. "Then what’s the name?" Molly smiled. "Operation Free Cookies." "There are no cookies." "There are always cookies at children’s parties." "Then our getaway will be delicious."