Run: 2026-10-08-01M4DAAJ47KFNJ23V6E4TXH4N1

Molly tapped the blueprint with a chewed pencil. "The Hendersons' backyard is the weak point. Forty kids, one bouncy castle, and a folding table stacked with presents. Nobody watches the table." Bill squinted at the drawing, which had a crude smiley face doodled in the corner. "Why is there a clown on the map?" "That's the entertainer. Gerald. He's the real problem. He juggles and he has a whistle." "A whistle?" "A loud one. Trust me, I've been to three of these parties this month just to case the joint." Bill leaned back in his folding chair, which creaked like it was filing a complaint. "Three parties? Molly, you ate four slices of cake at the last one." "Surveillance requires stamina." She flipped the page. "Now, the plan. You'll go in dressed as a magician's assistant. Nobody questions a magician's assistant." "I don't have the legs for sequins." "You have the legs for the stilts. Gerald's booked for the whole afternoon, so you'll offer to take over stilt duty while he's on his break." Bill frowned. "And what do I do on stilts?" "Keep the kids busy. Teach them the Macarena. Stall the cake until I've loaded the presents into the van." "The van is the ice cream truck, isn't it?" "Obviously. Nobody suspects the ice cream truck. It's the perfect getaway vehicle. It plays music that tells everyone exactly where we are, which is basically camouflage." Bill rubbed his temples. "Molly, that's the most ridiculous thing you've ever said." "Thank you." "It wasn't a compliment." "I know, but I'm taking it as one." She pulled a pair of novelty noses from her jacket pocket and tossed one to him. "Put this on. Disguises are non-negotiable." Bill slipped it over his face. "I look like a potato." "A very convincing potato. Now, final step. When the birthday girl blows out her candles, we move. Everyone's distracted by the singing. Nobody sees a thing." "What if somebody does?" Molly grinned and tapped the whistle sketched beside Gerald. "Then we let the clown handle it."