The bell above the cafe door jingled softly as Hunter stepped inside, the scent of cinnamon and fresh coffee washing over him. He scanned the cozy space, his eyes landing on a young woman with vibrant red hair hunched over a small table near the window. A camera bag rested beside her, and she was examining its contents with a worried frown. Uncertain, but compelled by a hunch, Hunter approached her. “Excuse me, ma'am,” Hunter began, his voice gruff. “I’m Detective Hunter, with the Alborn PD. I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes?” The woman looked up, her wide blue eyes startled. She licked her lips, then spoke in a rapid, melodic language he didn’t recognize. “Ich...Ich weiß nicht, was passiert ist. Es war so schnell.” Her voice shook, and she tugged at a loose strand of hair. Hunter blinked, completely lost. "Excuse me?" he asked, hoping she understood basic English. She shook her head vehemently, her expression turning increasingly distressed. "Nein, nein, Englisch... nicht..." Hunter sighed internally. This wasn't going to be easy. He gestured towards the empty chair across from her. "Mind if I sit?" he asked, hoping his gesture conveyed his intent. She nodded hesitantly, eyes darting nervously around the cafe. He settled into the chair, setting his notepad on the table. “I'm investigating a few disappearances in town," he said cautiously, trying a new tactic. "Have you heard anything unusual lately?” She seemed to understand the gist of it, her eyes widening. “Ja, ja,” she whispered, a tremor in her voice. “Der Mann... in der Wald. Er... verschwand.” Hunter struggled to grasp the meaning. "The man... in the forest?" he repeated slowly, hoping it was right. "Ja," she confirmed, relief flickering in her eyes. "Die Leute sprechen... Their conversation continued like this, a patchwork of English and German, frustration and heartfelt urgency. Hunter felt a kinship forming with this woman, despite the language barrier. He bombarded her with questions, using simple words and gestures, piecing together a story about a strange encounter in the woods, a shadowy figure, a vanished man. He felt a shiver himself as she described a chilling detail, her voice barely a murmur. Just as Hunter felt he was making progress, his phone buzzed with an insistent ring. Looking at the display, he saw it was his partner. “Sorry," Hunter said, rising to his feet. "Duty calls. Can I...uh... get your name?” “Melanie,” she said softly. “Melanie," he repeated, scribbling it down on his notepad. "I’ll be back.” He gave her a reassuring nod, hoping she would understand. Leaving her with her worried gaze and unanswered questions, Hunter stepped back out into the chilly autumn air, the mystery of Alborn deepening with every unanswered word. **Dialogue:** **Melanie:** “Ich...Ich weiß nicht, was passiert ist. Es war so schnell.” “Nein, nein, Englisch... nicht...” “Ja, ja. Der Mann... in der Wald. Er... verschwand.” “Ja. Die Leute sprechen…” **Hunter:** “Excuse me, ma'am. I’m Detective Hunter, with the Alborn PD. I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes?” "Excuse me?" “Mind if I sit?” “I'm investigating a few disappearances in town. Have you heard anything unusual lately?” "The man... in the forest?" "Sorry. Duty calls. Can I...uh... get your name?” “Melanie," I’ll be back."