Run: 2026-09-23-01M36NVM45QDP78DSFCN9D7TGJ

“We go in at seven,” Molly whispered, crouched behind the hedge. Bill checked his watch. “The invitation says the party starts at two.” “Exactly. By seven, the children will be tired, the cake will be gone, and the presents will be unguarded.” “What about the parents?” “They’ll be distracted.” “By what?” Molly pointed through the hedge. A paper banner sagged over the garden gate: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLIVER! Beneath it, a dozen adults were watching a magician produce scarves from a rabbit’s hat. “Magic,” she said. Bill frowned. “That’s a man pulling scarves from a rabbit.” “Magic is whatever keeps people from noticing us.” “And the children?” “Also distracted. Children are easily distracted.” A small boy ran past them wearing a cardboard crown and carrying a wooden sword. Bill ducked. “That one looked alert.” “He’s dressed as a knight. He probably can’t count past ten.” “He can count to eleven,” said a voice behind them. Molly and Bill turned. A girl in a pink party dress stood beside the hedge, holding a cupcake. “Are you stealing the presents?” she asked. “Of course not,” Molly said. “Then why are you hiding in the bushes?” “We’re gardeners,” said Bill. The girl looked at the hedge. “You’re sitting on the flowers.” “We’re very thorough gardeners,” Molly said. The girl took a bite of cupcake. “The presents are in the living room. Mum put them there because Uncle Pete ate one last year.” Bill blinked. “Ate a present?” “He thought it was a chocolate box.” “Was it?” “No. It was a sock.” Bill glanced at Molly. “We’re not stealing socks.” “Not unless they’re valuable,” Molly murmured. The girl pointed toward the house. “The back door’s open. But you’ll have to get past the dog.” “What sort of dog?” Molly asked. “A very small one.” Molly relaxed. “Excellent.” “It bites ankles.” Molly relaxed less. Bill straightened his tie. “We’re leaving.” “Good,” said the girl. “Because I told Mum there were thieves in the hedge.” From the garden came a whistle. The magician’s rabbit shot past them, dragging a string of scarves. The adults cheered. The children shrieked. The tiny dog barked like a broken alarm clock. Molly stood. “We could still go in.” Bill stared at her. “The girl has reported us, the rabbit is loose, and the dog is armed.” “With teeth.” “Ankle teeth.” Molly considered the house, then the girl’s cupcake. “What presents did Oliver get?” “Mostly books,” the girl said. “Books?” Bill turned away. “I’m not risking prison for books.” Molly sighed. “Fine. We’ll leave.” The girl held out the cupcake. “You can have this.” Bill eyed it suspiciously. “Any socks inside?” “No. But there’s a raisin.” He took it. “We’ll split it.” “Get your own,” Molly said. As they crept away, the girl called after them, “Happy birthday, Oliver!” “Happy birthday, Oliver!” Molly called back. Bill swallowed the cupcake in one bite. “You know, this was a terrible heist.” “Terrible,” Molly agreed. “But at least we didn’t steal a sock.” Behind them, the dog barked. Bill hurried. “Yet.”