Run: 2026-09-23-01M36SD1NKHYGKQ9PSSV5MJ11S

Molly spread the blueprints across the hood of the car and squinted under the streetlight. Bill leaned over her shoulder, nearly toppling a coffee cup balanced on the fender. "So that's the layout?" Molly tapped a finger on the paper. "Kitchen here, living room there, and the balcony where they'll set out all the good stuff." "The good stuff being what exactly?" Bill asked. "Nine kids. Three wrapping parties' worth of presents. I'm talking video games, a scooter, one of those giant stuffed bears the size of a toddler." "A giant stuffed bear? Our whole plan is to steal a giant stuffed bear?" "Bill, do you want the bear or not?" "I want the scooter," Bill said. "I've always wanted a scooter." "Fine, you can have the scooter. But we're selling everything else on the secondary market. Now listen—" She traced her finger along the blueprint. "The party starts at four. We go in through the back door during cake time." "During cake time?" "That's right. During cake time every parent in that house will be standing around chanting 'Happy Birthday' like it's their goddamn religion. No one's watching the back door." "And what if somebody IS watching the back door?" "Then you do what you always do." "I what?" "Talk your way out of it." Bill folded his arms. "I'm not good at talking my way out of things." "You talked your way out of a bowling alley full of security guards last March." "That was different. I told them I was a janitor." "And you weren't?" "No, I was there to steal the trophy." "Exactly. You're a natural." Molly rolled up the blueprints and shoved them into her bag. "Here's the other part. We each carry one big bag. Stuff the presents in fast, don't rearrange, don't admire the wrapping paper, and we're out the back door in under two minutes." "What if one of the kids comes in?" "What's a five-year-old going to do? Chase us?" "The one with the scooter might," Bill said. Molly paused. "Fair point. That's why we grab the scooter first. Priority one." "What about priority two?" "The video game console." "Priority three?" "The big bear." "You want the bear." "I didn't say I didn't want the bear. I'm not an animal, Bill. I want the bear." Bill stared at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. Back door, cake time, two minutes. Scooter first, video games second, bear last." "That's it." "And if the parents start chasing us?" Molly's grin could have lit the whole street. "Then you talk to them." "I am NOT going to be a janitor again." "I didn't say janitor. I said you talk to them. Maybe you're the cake delivery guy. Maybe you're the clown who didn't get the invitation. Maybe you're anyone other than a thief carrying a bag full of stolen presents." Bill opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. "I'm going to be the clown who didn't get the invitation, aren't I?" "Already figured out your outfit," she said, tossing him a small box. He caught it and looked down. Inside was a red foam nose. He put it on immediately. "How do I look?" "Like a criminal," Molly said. "Perfect. Let's go."