Run: 2026-10-08-01M4E17MBARJRSHRS0SM517X3D

Molly crouched behind the hedge, peering through the gap at the glowing windows of number twelve, Maple Crescent. Balloons bobbed against the porch. Somewhere inside, a hundred tiny voices shrieked the chorus of a birthday song. Bill slid in beside her, clutching a flask and a pair of oversized tweezers. "Right. Status report." "Forty-three presents in the front room, stacked by the piano," Molly whispered. "Sixteen more in the kitchen. The big one with the gold bow is already in the hall. Nobody's guarding it." "Nobody's guarding anything. It's a children's party, Molly. The security system is a six-year-old with a squeaky whistle." "Don't underestimate him. He's already confiscated my sausage roll." Bill squinted at the house. "What's our entry point?" "The back door. Mrs. Pemberton keeps it unlocked so the kids can run in and out for cake. I checked the flowerbeds. No dogs. Just a hamster in a bucket." "A hamster in a bucket. Brilliant. Is the hamster armed?" "Don't joke. The hamster is watching us." They crept along the side fence, dodging a trampoline and a plastic slide. Bill stepped on something soft and squelchy. He lifted his foot and groaned. "Is that a jelly baby?" "Shh! Keep your voice down." "It's on my shoe, Molly. It's in the laces." "Pick it out later. We're in." The back door creaked. Inside, the kitchen smelled of icing and burnt sausage rolls. A pirate piñata hung from the ceiling, swaying gently. Molly pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed to the hallway. Through the doorway they could see the gold-bowed present sitting proudly beside the coat rack. "Grab it and go," she whispered. "Quick and quiet." Bill tiptoed forward, reached for the box, and froze. A small voice piped up from the stairs. "Are you the magician?" Molly and Bill turned slowly. A girl in a sparkly tiara stood on the bottom step, holding a wand. "No," Bill said. "We're, uh, the present inspectors." "Inspectors?" "Yes. Very important. We're checking for quality." The girl considered this. "Okay. Mum says the blue one is from Auntie Dot and it's full of socks." Molly grabbed the gold box. "Thank you, sweetheart. You've been extremely helpful." They bolted for the back door, Bill's shoe squelching with every step. Behind them, the girl called out, "You forgot the cake!" Bill skidded to a halt. Molly grabbed his collar and dragged him onward. "Forget the cake!" "But it's chocolate!" "Bill, we have a gold bow to protect!"