Run: 2026-10-08-01M4DA2E2MRTT1X5MD4P0QWXEB

The van smelled of damp cardboard and cheap cologne. Molly tapped the blueprint spread across the dashboard while Bill squinted at a map of the suburban cul-de-sac. "Right, so the party's at number fourteen," Molly said. "Birthday for a seven-year-old named Tristan. Eleven guests, one bouncy castle, and according to my source, forty-two presents stacked on a table by the garage." "Forty-two," Bill whispered, reverently. "Do you know how many socks that is?" "Bill, we are not stealing socks." "I'm just saying, the mother's got a lot of gift wrap on those boxes. Could be anything. Could be gold." "It's a Lego set, Bill. Possibly three Lego sets. The source said so." Bill frowned. "What's the entry point?" Molly unfolded a second sheet. "Front door's out. There's a clown greeting everyone." "A clown? Why would they hire a clown?" "Because people are monsters. Back gate, then. Dog's asleep by the hydrangeas, I checked it twice." "You checked a dog twice?" "I brought it a sausage. We're friends now." Bill tapped the map. "And the alarm?" "There's no alarm. It's a birthday, Bill. The only security system is a dad named Gary who's been drinking since noon." "Right. Good. Gary's a weak point." He nodded seriously. "I can work with Gary." "Here's the plan. You go in through the gate, grab the presents from the table, and pass them over the fence to me. I'll be waiting in the van with the bags." "Why do I get the heavy lifting?" "Because you're the one who wanted to be a cat burglar." "I wanted to be a cat burglar when I was nine, Molly. I'm forty-one." "Then act like a cat." Bill sighed and pulled a balaclava from his coat pocket. It had a small cartoon unicorn stitched onto the forehead. "Where did you get that?" "Clearance rack. Don't judge me." "Put it on. And for heaven's sake, don't sneeze. Last time, you knocked over a whole display of garden gnomes." "That was an accident, and the gnomes were looking at me." Molly checked her watch. "Party's wrapping up in twenty minutes. Cake's been cut, so everyone's on a sugar high. Perfect time." "Molly?" "What?" "If we get caught, what's the story?" She thought for a moment. "We're the magicians. The ones who were supposed to show up at two o'clock." Bill brightened. "Oh, I like that. I can do a card trick." "You cannot do a card trick." "I can do one card. It disappears. Mostly." Molly grabbed her bag and opened the door. "Let's go before Gary finishes his fourth beer."