Run: 2026-09-29-01M3P2H5YRTNN7W9XE77TY7T43

Molly crouched behind the hydrangea with her binoculars trained on the Hendersons' backyard. Bill crouched beside her, wearing a party hat he refused to explain. "Okay, run it again," Bill whispered. "This is the third time." "I'm a nervous learner, Molly. Run it." She sighed. "The party is for Tyler, who is turning seven. There are twenty-two kids, fourteen parents, one bouncy castle, and a magician named Sparkles. The presents are on the folding table under the unicorn banner. We take every last one." "Every last one," Bill repeated. "Even the ugly ones?" "Especially the ugly ones. Ugly gifts are usually the expensive ones." "That's not true." "Bill, last month someone gave me a lamp shaped like a fish. It was four hundred dollars." "Why did someone give you a lamp?" "Focus. At two-thirty, Sparkles does the cake ceremony. Every eye goes to the cake. That's our window." Bill frowned. "What if a kid sees us?" "Then you're a party entertainer." "I'm not dressed like one." "You're wearing a hat, Bill." "Right." He touched the brim proudly. "So what's my act?" "You don't have an act. You hold the sack." "I could do a little something. I know a coin trick." "Absolutely not." "It's a good one. The coin goes behind your ear." "And where does it go after that?" Bill hesitated. "Usually I lose it." Molly lowered the binoculars and stared at him. "This is why you hold the sack." A cheer erupted from the yard. Sparkles was juggling what looked like three rubber chickens. "Okay, that's a distraction I did not plan for," Molly muttered. "Why is that so hypnotic?" "Chickens are funny," Bill said solemnly. "Snap out of it. Where's the getaway van?" "Around the corner." "Is it running?" "Well, I didn't want to waste gas." "Bill." "But I parked it facing the right way!" "Fine. Here's the plan. I cut through the side gate and you follow. You sack the gifts from the left side, I take the right. If anyone asks, we're from the bouncy castle company." "Is there a bouncy castle company?" "There's always a company." Bill nodded slowly. "What if they ask for ID?" "We say it's in the castle." "That's beautiful, Molly." "Thank you." Another cheer rose. Someone began singing off-key. "That's the cake song," Molly whispered, grabbing the sack. "Ready?" Bill adjusted his hat and took a deep breath. "Ready. Wait. What if there's a piñata?" "What about it?" "I just want to know if we're stealing that too." Molly closed her eyes. "Only if it's full." "Excellent," Bill whispered, and they slipped through the gate.