Run: 2026-09-23-01M36WJ0CH62FRZXKF4PM5NYVJ

Molly spread the blueprint across the café table and Bill leaned in so close his nose nearly touched the paper. "So here's the kitchen," Molly said, tapping the corner. "Catering staff go in and out every fifteen minutes. That's our window." "Window." Bill squinted. "Pun intended?" "Focus, Bill." "Fine. But the birthday kid's mom hired security. A security guard. At a seven-year-old's party." "He's there to watch the bounce house, not the gift table." "How do you know?" "Because I talked to him yesterday. Lovely man named Terry. He told me he's terrified of clowns, so all I have to do is—" "Wait, you hired a clown?" "I booked one through the caterer's contact list. It's already paid for. The clown arrives at four, Terry panics, wanders off toward the parking lot, and we walk right in." Bill sat back and folded his arms. "We're robbing a child's birthday party. I want you to hear yourself." "I hear myself perfectly. There are two dozen presents on that table and every single one is wrapped in visible, untraceable cash under the wrapping." "The parents give cash to a seven-year-old?" "Molly pulled out her phone and showed him the e-vite. The RSVP screen listed the gift registry at a high-end toy store. Every gift on that table cost at least a hundred bucks, and gift receipts are tucked in each card." "So we take them, exchange them, cash out." "Twelve grand minimum." Bill exhaled slowly. "And the kids?" "What about them?" "The kids, Molly. Children. Small humans who will be upset." "Bill, I promise you, that seven-year-old has thirty cousins and will not notice six or seven missing presents." "Six or seven? We're leaving some behind?" "We leave the ugly ones. It would be suspicious if the whole table were empty. We stage it like some older kids grabbed a few and nobody bats an eye." Bill studied her for a long moment. "The clown thing is really good." "Thank you." "But if Terry catches us, I'm telling him your name." "Understood." Molly slid the blueprint back into its tube. "Wear something colorful. It's a party." "Disguise as a parent." "Disguise as a fun uncle who arrived late. Carry a balloon if it helps." "I don't even like kids." "Then smile less. That actually helps more." Bill drummed his fingers on the table. "What time do we meet?" "Three-thirty. We do the clown handoff, slip in through the kitchen, grab the bags from the gift table while they're doing cake, and we're out before anyone sings the second verse of Happy Birthday." "Nobody sings two verses." "Exactly. We'll already be gone."