Run: 2026-10-08-01M4DA3XJF8Y1C9GRFPTDWP046

Molly crouched behind the hedge, peering through a gap at the glowing bounce castle in the Henderson backyard. Forty children shrieked inside it. "Bill, there are forty kids in there. Some of them are holding juice boxes like weapons." "Which is why we go in during the cake," Bill whispered, adjusting a fake mustache that kept drooping. "Everyone's distracted by the cake. Nobody looks at the gift table." "The cake is a clown, Bill." "Sure, a clown. Clowns are a distraction. That's the whole point." "The clown has been staring at us for ten minutes." "He's just being friendly." Molly pulled a crumpled list from her coat. "Okay. Phase one: slip past the balloon archway. Phase two: sneak into the garage where they stashed the presents. Phase three: grab the big ones first." "Why the big ones first?" "Because the small ones are probably socks, and nobody steals socks." Bill nodded solemnly. "Socks are a crime against humanity. What's phase four?" "Phase four is we leave before the parents notice." "What about the dog?" "What dog?" "The golden retriever in the party hat, Bill. He's been sniffing your pocket since we got here." Bill patted his jacket. "I brought sausages. Dogs love sausages." "You brought sausages to a children's party heist?" "I brought them to bribe the dog. Always plan for everything, that's what my mother said." "Your mother also said you'd never amount to anything." "And yet here I am, a professional thief with a sausage strategy." Molly sighed. "Fine. Do you have the wrapping paper?" "Forty rolls. Unicorns, dinosaurs, and one with Grandma's face on it. Don't ask." "Why on earth would we need wrapping paper?" "So when we get caught, we say we were just delivering gifts." "Bill, we're already hiding in the bushes." "Right. Okay. Ready?" Molly checked her watch. "On my signal. Three... two..." A small voice piped up behind them. "Are you the ones who ate the piñata candy?" They both froze. A little girl in a plastic tiara stood there, clutching a purple lollipop and eyeing them with deep suspicion. "No," Bill said quickly. "Yes," Molly said at the same time. "Molly." "Sorry, I panicked." The girl narrowed her eyes. "My mom says if you're sneaky grown-ups, you have to share." Bill looked at Molly. Molly looked at the sausages. Somewhere inside, the clown let out a triumphant cheer. Molly groaned, reached into her coat, and pulled out a gift bag. "Here. Take the one with the dinosaurs. And don't tell anyone we were here." The girl grinned, snatched the bag, and skipped away. "That," Bill said, "was not phase four."