Run: 2026-10-09-01M4FYP042VHZWZQN7MZ9ZHDDS

Molly tapped the blueprint of the Henderson mansion with a pencil she'd stolen from a dentist's office. "Okay, Bill. Here's the plan. The party starts at three. The kids will be in the backyard playing pin the tail on the donkey. The presents are stacked in the living room under a banner that says Happy Seventh, Tyler." Bill adjusted his fake mustache, which kept drooping at the left corner. "And the guard dog?" "There is no guard dog. There's a bouncy castle. Trust me, I've done my homework." "Your homework has never once been correct, Molly. Remember the bank in Dayton?" "That was the bank's fault for having a moat." She slid a laminated card across the table. "This is our ticket in. We're clowns. Professional entertainers. Nobody questions a clown." Bill studied the card. "It says Sparkles and Bubbles Party Co. Who's Sparkles?" "That's you." "I'm not sparkly." "You're wearing a rainbow wig, Bill." He sighed and tugged at the wig. "Fine. What about the parents? They'll recognize we're not really clowns." "Parents are too busy sipping prosecco and pretending they like each other. We'll be in and out in twelve minutes. Grab every gift with a bow, ignore the ones wrapped in newspaper, because those are from Grandma and she always gives socks." "Socks are valuable, Molly. People need socks." "Not in our line of work. Now, the getaway. We'll load the presents into the van and drive straight to the bowling alley." "Why the bowling alley?" "Because nobody searches a bowling alley on a Saturday. Plus, I hear they've got a ball return that loops around like a racetrack. Very efficient for escapes." Bill frowned. "You want to escape on a bowling lane?" "I want to escape past the snack bar. Pay attention." A small voice echoed from the hallway. "Are you the clowns?" Both thieves froze. A little girl in a princess dress peered around the doorframe, holding a half-eaten cupcake. Molly smiled brightly and pulled out a balloon animal. "Yes, sweetheart. We're the clowns. Go tell your friends we'll be there in five minutes." The girl squinted. "Why do you have a notebook that says Heist Plan?" Bill snatched the notebook. "It's a coloring book. For clowns." "Cool," the girl said, and skipped away. Molly exhaled. "See? Flawless." "Molly, she's going to tell everyone." "Then we'd better hurry."