Run: 2026-10-13-01M4TAYB4G1C20H44ZDF3YN47J

Molly unrolled the blueprint across the hood of the car. It was crayon on construction paper, because the target was a seven-year-old's birthday party and she'd thought it would be "thematic." "Okay," she said. "Party starts at two. Presents go on the gift table by the patio. At two-thirty the magician starts his act, everyone's watching, and that's when we move." Bill squinted at the drawing. "Is this a dog or a bouncy castle?" "It's the bouncy castle." "Why does it have a face?" "Because I can't draw, Bill. Focus." "I'm just saying, if the plan has a face on it, the plan should be labeled." Molly pinched the bridge of her nose. "The bouncy castle is an obstacle. Kids will be in it. Kids are the whole problem." "Kids are small. We could take 'em." "We are not fighting children, Bill." "I'm not saying fight. I'm saying, like, strategically outlast." "They're seven. They have unlimited energy and no fear. One of them bit a clown last year. It's in the police report." Bill went quiet at that. He'd done three months for the clown thing, technically, since he'd been the clown. "Fine," he said. "So what's our cover?" Molly pulled two garment bags from the back seat. "You're a balloon artist. I'm a face painter." "I can't make balloon animals." "You don't have to. You make one sword, over and over. Kids love swords. Nobody questions the sword guy." "And if they ask for a giraffe?" "You say the giraffe store is closed." Bill considered this. "That's actually good." "Thank you." "What about the parents? There's always one dad by the grill who watches everybody." Molly smiled. "Already handled. I signed him up for a fantasy football league. He'll be on his phone the entire time." "You're evil." "I'm thorough." They stood in silence a moment, looking at the house down the street. Streamers. A banner that said HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TYLER. A piñata shaped like a donkey hanging from the oak tree. "Can I ask something?" Bill said. "If it's about the piñata—" "It's about the piñata. Do we take it?" "Bill." "There's candy in there, Molly. Candy is presents-adjacent." "We take wrapped gifts only. The piñata is a trap. The moment you whack it, fifty kids swarm you like piranhas. I've seen the footage." "There was footage?" "Birthday parties always have footage. That's rule one. Smile for no camera." Bill zipped up his garment bag, then unzipped it, then zipped it again. "Last question. The cake. In and out before cake, right? Nobody leaves during cake." "Nobody leaves during cake," Molly confirmed. "Cake is the only sacred thing in that yard." "Even we're not monsters." "Even we're not monsters," she agreed, and they walked toward the party, balloon pump in hand, like professionals.