Run: 2026-10-08-01M4DA1Z6WRCDA116VSSQ73N9R

The van smelled of cold fries and ambition. Molly tapped a blueprint spread across the dashboard while Bill squinted through the windshield at a bouncy castle. "Okay," Molly said. "Phase one. We walk in through the side gate." "The side gate has a sign that says Private Party, Adults Keep Out." "Which is why we're wearing these." She pulled two lanyards from her coat. Each card read CLOWN, ENTRY APPROVED. Bill took his. "Where'd you get clown passes?" "A man named Gary. Don't ask about Gary." "I'm asking about Gary." "Bill, focus. Phase two. The presents are stacked in the living room, behind the cake table." "How many presents?" "Forty-three, according to the mum's Facebook post." "Forty-three! What's in them?" "Mostly bikes, a drone, and a box Gary swears is a scooter." Bill frowned. "Molly, they're kids. Won't they notice their presents are gone?" "That's phase three, and it's the genius part. We leave each of them one present. Wrapped. Empty box. Little card that says, Sorry, Santa's lawyers have been notified." "That's not a real thing." "It is now. Nobody argues with a card that official." "What about the dog?" "What dog?" "The dog that's been following us since the car park." Molly turned slowly. A golden retriever wearing a party hat sat beside the bins, holding a squeaky duck in its mouth. "Oh, that's Biscuit," Bill said. "Birthday boy's dog. He's been helping himself to the sausage rolls." "Then he's an accomplice. Hand him a sausage roll, Bill." "Why me?" "Because you're good with animals." "I'm good with ferrets." "Ferrets are animals." Biscuit trotted over, dropped the duck at Bill's feet, and wagged. Bill sighed and produced a sausage roll from his coat pocket. "Where did you even get that?" "Don't ask about the sausage rolls either." Molly checked her watch. "Clown hour starts in four minutes. Remember, nobody touches the piñata." "Why is the piñata off limits?" "Because it's full of actual candy, and I have a moral code." Bill stared. "You have a moral code? Since when?" "Since the Hendersons' wedding." "Right. Let's not talk about the Hendersons." Biscuit barked once, sharp and approving. Molly grinned, grabbed a bag marked BALLOONS, and slid the door open. "Come on, partner. Let's go steal some birthdays."