Run: 2026-10-08-01M4D9ZEKX1FA3T7BWS2ZYZ5R5

Molly crouched behind the hedge, binoculars pressed to her eyes. Bill sat beside her, licking icing off his thumb. "Right," she whispered. "Eight kids, one clown, and a bouncy castle that's seen things. Still think this is a good idea?" "Course it is," Bill said, spraying crumbs. "Nobody suspects a party. That's what makes it genius." "That's what makes it a crime against childhood." "There's two hundred quid of Lego in that front room, Molly. Think of the Lego." She lowered the binoculars. "Remind me of the plan." "Simple. Side gate, grab every present off the table, and out before they cut the cake." "And the mum? The one with the whistle?" "She'll be busy with the balloon animals." "The clown's doing balloon animals?" "Balloon dogs. Dead easy. Nobody watches anything once a balloon dog's involved." Molly squinted at the window. "There's a man in a bow tie standing by the door. He's holding a clipboard." "That's just the magician." "Why does the magician have a clipboard?" "Because he's professional." Bill stood, brushing off his knees. "Look, we've done harder jobs. Remember the cathedral bake sale?" "We got arrested at the cathedral bake sale." "We got arrested *after* the cathedral bake sale. Different thing entirely." Molly sighed and pulled a balaclava over her head. It had a cartoon unicorn on it. "Where did you even get this?" "Pound shop. Nobody looks twice at a unicorn." "Everyone looks twice at a unicorn, Bill." "Well, they'll be too busy looking at the magician's clipboard." He glanced at his watch. "Right, it's show time. Ten seconds till the pass-the-parcel music stops. Gate's open. Scout's honour." "You were never a scout." "Scout's honour, Molly. Stop nitpicking." They slipped through the gate, bent low, and crept across the lawn. Behind them, a pink bouncy castle sagged in the breeze, groaning like it knew exactly what they were up to. "Shh," Bill hissed. "Quiet. Quiet." They reached the French windows. Molly pressed her face to the glass and froze. "Bill." "What?" "The presents are gone." "Gone where?" She pointed. Inside, a row of tiny children in party hats sat cross-legged on the carpet, each one holding a wrapped box and staring straight at them. "Oh," said Bill faintly. "Oh, no." A small girl in a tiara raised her hand. "Are you the thieves?" Molly looked at Bill. Bill looked at Molly. "Run," they said together.