Run: 2026-09-23-01M36SBB7Y8R7DRRQNRF2S9MJM

The fluorescent light in the back of the café flickered as Molly spread a crumpled napkin across the table and jabbed her pen at a crudely drawn floor plan of Mrs. Henderson's house. "So here's the kitchen, and here's where the presents will be—piled right next to the goody bags on the long table," she said, circling the area twice for emphasis. Bill leaned in, squinting. "Is that a star or a stain?" "Does it matter?" "I just want to know what I'm looking at." "It's a star, Bill. A star meaning *target*." She drew a bold arrow pointing at it. "Twelve-year-old birthday party. Unattended presents. Hundreds of dollars' worth of gift cards, electronics, and video games, all just sitting there." Bill drummed his fingers against the tabletop and exhaled through his nose. "Mrs. Henderson's going to be hosting thirty screaming kids. How do we even get in?" "That's the beautiful part," Molly said, leaning back in her chair with the confidence of a general unveiling a war plan. "We don't sneak in. We walk in." "You're serious right now." "Dead serious. We dress up, we bring a gift bag with some tissue paper and a cheap toy, and we blend right in. The parents won't question two adults because the party's going to be absolute chaos. Nobody's watching." Bill stroked his chin. "So we're disguised as what? Parents?" "Party relatives. I'll say I'm a cousin from out of town. You say you're the uncle who came for the big reveal." "That's actually not terrible," Bill admitted, though his tone suggested he was offended by the implication. "What about security cameras?" "No cameras. Mrs. Henderson's seventy-three and still uses a landline. She doesn't know what Ring is." Molly tapped her pen against the floor plan again. "The plan is simple. You mingle on the left side of the room near the dessert table. You engage in conversation with bored dads. You be charming and unthreatening. Meanwhile, I work my way to the presents." "And if someone notices the pile shrinking?" "We start by removing the biggest items. Gift boxes, wrapped packages, anything that stacks. I'll have a large duffel bag in the coat closet beforehand. You'll make sure the door stays unlocked." "You want me to become a lookout?" "I want you to become *unmissable*. Talk loudly. Tell a bad joke. Distract everybody." Bill smiled slowly. "I've been preparing for that my entire life." "Then we're ready. Saturday at two. Be dressed nice." "Wear a corsage?" "No, Bill. Don't wear a corsage." Molly folded the napkin plan neatly and tucked it into her jacket. The fluorescent light above them finally stopped flickering, as if the universe itself approved of the terrible decision they had just made together.