INT. ALCOVE CAFE - DAY A quaint little cafe in the heart of Alborn, MN. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the room. MARIE, a young woman with a camera slung around her neck, sits alone at a corner table, her eyes focused intently on the camera screen. Her fingers deftly navigate through her recent shots. HUNTER, a rugged detective with a serious demeanor, notices her as he walks in, his strides purposeful. Upon approach, he clears his throat to gain her attention. --- Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. I was wondering if you could help me with something. Have you heard about the recent disappearances in town?" Marie: "Pardonnez-moi? Je ne comprends pas..." Hunter: (raising an eyebrow and muttering to himself) "Of course. English, Hunter, always assume English." Marie: (sensing his confusion, she looks apologetic) "Je suis désolée. Je ne parle pas anglais..." Hunter: "Alright then, this might be a challenge. Disappearances… people missing? Any photos you took? (He gestures animatedly, mimicking a camera snap)." Marie: (nodding, her face paling slightly as she retrieves images on her camera) "Oui… Les gens… ils semblaient effrayés… je les ai vus, mais… comment dire… ce n’est pas clair." Hunter: "Uh-huh. You saw something strange, didn’t you?" (He gazes at her camera excitedly but remains confused by her words). Marie: "Oui, mais..." (Her voice trembles, trying to find an English word) "Peur… scared?" Hunter: (finally understanding the word) "Scared, okay… I see." (He narrows his eyes, trying to piece together whatever scarce information he has from gestures and expressions). Marie: (earnestly) "Un homme... grand, souvent dans l’ombre..." Hunter: "Tall man… shadows?" (He scratches his head, trying to make sense of it). (Just then, Hunter’s phone buzzes in his pocket, interrupting their perplexing exchange. He answers the call, brief and sharp.) Hunter: "Detective Hunter here... Yeah? Where? Alright, I’m on my way." (He turns back to Marie, giving her a curt nod.) Hunter: "I have to go. Merci… thank you!" (Adding with a hopeful look) "Stay safe." Marie: (softly) "Prenez soin de vous…" (Hunter heads for the exit, still pondering the cryptic encounter. Marie watches him leave, feeling both relieved and anxious about the unsettling images locked in her camera.)