Run: 2026-10-27-01M5YG465GJ5F93VDRQ2X5SNFZ

Molly spread a crumpled party invitation across the café table. Bill placed a sugar bowl on each corner, although there was only one corner that needed holding down. “Saturday, two o’clock,” Molly said. “Twenty children, one bouncy castle, and a mountain of presents.” Bill peered at the invitation. “It says gifts are optional.” “Bill, it’s a child’s birthday. Nobody turns up empty-handed unless they enjoy being discussed in car parks.” “And we’re stealing all of them?” “Every last one.” He nodded slowly. “Have we considered that the children might be upset?” “Only the birthday girl gets presents.” “That’s a relief. Just the one upset child, then.” Molly tapped the address. “We enter through the garden gate, mingle with the parents, and leave with the presents before anyone notices.” “How do we mingle with parents?” “We talk about school parking and make tired noises.” “I can do tired noises.” Bill demonstrated three. “Excellent. The second one sounded particularly authentic.” A waitress brought their tea. Bill waited until she had gone before leaning closer. “What do we put the presents in?” “A large sack.” “Won’t a large sack look suspicious?” “Not if we’re dressed as entertainers.” Bill brightened. “Magicians?” “Exactly.” “I’ve always wanted to do magic.” He reached into his sleeve and produced a teaspoon. “Pick a card.” “That’s a spoon.” “I’m saving the cards for the finale.” Molly drew two stick figures on a napkin. “You create a distraction. I collect the presents. Then we stroll out.” “What sort of distraction?” “Something theatrical. A puff of smoke. A dramatic announcement.” “I could saw you in half.” “Not if you intend to stroll out with me afterward.” Bill studied the invitation again. “There’s already a magician booked.” Molly’s pencil stopped. “That complicates things.” “We could say we’re his assistants.” “What if he asks who we are?” “We say, ‘Your assistants.’” “He’ll know we’re lying.” “Not if he’s very disorganised.” Molly considered this. Outside, a bus hissed to a stop. A small boy pressed his face against its window and stuck out his tongue at Bill, who stuck his out in return. “Suppose,” Molly said, “we pretend to be the magician’s replacements. We arrive early, announce he’s been delayed, take the presents, and disappear.” Bill looked impressed. “You make it sound almost magical.” “Thank you.” “What do we do with the presents?” “Sell them.” “All of them?” “That is generally how stealing works.” He turned the invitation over. “There’s a list. Building blocks, a dinosaur puzzle, books about space.” “And?” “And I don’t think we’ll get much for books about space.” Molly took the invitation back. At the bottom, in cheerful purple letters, it said: PLEASE BRING AN UNWRAPPED GIFT FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. “Oh,” she said. “Perhaps,” Bill said, “we could still go as magicians.” “And steal what?” “The show.” Molly looked at him. He waggled the teaspoon. “Pick a card.” “Fine,” she said. “But I’m not being sawn in half for charity.” “Obviously. We’ll use the waitress.” The waitress appeared beside them with the bill. “You’ll use the door.”