## Scene: Whispers in the Wind **Setting:** A cozy cafe in Alborn, MN, sunlight streaming through the windows. The aroma of coffee and apple pie fills the air. **Characters:** * **Maria:** Sitting at a table by the window, her brow furrowed as she scrolls through photos on her camera. A worried expression clouds her usually bright features. * **Hunter:** Approaches Maria's table, his demeanor serious, a hint of fatigue around his eyes. **(SOUND of chair scraping as Hunter sits down.)** **Hunter:** (Clears his throat) "Excuse me, ma'am. Mind if I ask you a few questions? I'm Detective Hunter." (He flashes his badge) **Maria:** (Startled, looks up at Hunter, her eyes wide with apprehension. She quickly switches to Spanish.) "Lo siento, no hablo inglés." _(I'm sorry, I don't speak English)._ **Hunter:** (Frowns, taken aback) "Uh... Right. No problemo." (He winces internally, realizing his Spanish skills are non-existent.) "Look, you wouldn't happen to have seen anything unusual lately, would you? Anything out of the ordinary?" **Maria:** (Hesitates, clutching her camera tightly. She speaks rapidly in Spanish, her voice low and urgent.) "Si... sí, vi algo. Anoche, cerca del parque... un coche... un hombre..." _(Yes... yes, I saw something. Last night, near the park... a car... a man...)_ Hunter: (Confused, leans forward) "Slow down, slow down. I... don't understand. Car? Man? What about them?" **Maria:** (Shakes her head frantically, her eyes filling with tears. She points to her camera.) "Fotos... tengo fotos..." _(Photos... I have photos...)_ Hunter: (Raises his eyebrows, intrigued) "Photos? You got pictures of something? Let me see." He gestures towards the camera. **(Maria hesitates, then with a trembling hand, she turns the camera on and shows Hunter a photo. Her face pales as she looks at it.)** **(Hunter's phone rings. He sighs, annoyed at the interruption.)** **Hunter:** (Into the phone) "Hunter... Yeah, I'm at the cafe on Main Street... Alright, I'm on my way." (He hangs up and looks at Maria apologetically.) "Look, I gotta run. But I need to see those photos. You said park, right? Meet me there tomorrow, same time. Don't be late." **(He gets up to leave, then pauses and adds, attempting a reassuring smile.)** **Hunter:** "Don't worry, we'll figure this out." **(Maria nods silently, her face etched with worry. She clutches her camera protectively as she watches Hunter leave the cafe.)**