Run: 2025-11-18-01KACP9KZJP023ZC4E5QBHE3AW

Melanie: (Muttering to herself in German, clicking through photos on her camera, distressed) "Nein, nein, das kann nicht sein... Wo ist es? Ich war sicher..." Hunter: (Clears throat) "Excuse me, Ma'am? Miss... Weber?" Melanie: (Looks up, startled. Her eyes are wide) "Was? Bitte?" Hunter: "Detective Hunter, Alborn Police. I was told you were here yesterday evening, near Miller's Creek." Melanie: (Shakes her head, looking panicked. She points to her ear and then shakes her head again) "Ich... ich verstehe nicht. Englisch... nein." Hunter: (Sighs softly, keeping his voice calm) "Right. Okay. Yesterday." (He holds up one finger) "Evening." (He gestures to the window, where the sun is setting) "You. There." (He points vaguely out the window) Melanie: (Her brow furrows in concentration, then her eyes fill with fear. She nods frantically) "Ja! Ja, gestern Abend. Ich habe fotografiert. Die Vögel, den Sonnenuntergang..." Hunter: (Leans in slightly, taking her response as a good sign. He pulls a small photo of a missing man from his jacket pocket and places it on the table) "Did you see this man? Timothy Albright. He was walking his dog." Melanie: (Gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. She stares at the photo, then back at Hunter, her face pale. Tears well in her eyes) "Der Mann... Ja, der Mann mit dem Hund! Oh mein Gott. Er... er war einfach weg." Hunter: (Watches her intently, frustrated. He points to the photo) "Weg? What does 'weg' mean? Gone?" (He makes a 'poof' gesture with his hands). Melanie: (Nods vigorously, her voice trembling) "Ja, ja! Gone! Ein Schrei... Ich hörte einen Schrei. Ich dachte, es wäre ein Tier. Aber als ich aufsah, war da nichts. Nur der Hund. Der arme Hund bellte und bellte..." Hunter: "A scream? You heard a scream?" (He points to his own mouth, then cups a hand to his ear) "Loud noise?" Melanie: (Nods again, then quickly grabs her camera, her hands shaking as she tries to find a specific photo) "Moment, bitte. Ich habe... hier!" (She turns the camera screen towards him. The photo is slightly blurry, capturing the creek at twilight. In the corner, barely visible in the deepening shadows, is a flash of a dark coat and what looks like a hand gripping a tree trunk) "Sehen Sie? Da! Jemand war da! Ich dachte, es wäre nur ein Schatten, aber..." Hunter: (Leans in, squinting at the small screen. He can't make out much but sees the fear and conviction in her eyes) "Okay... okay. I need this camera, ma'am." (He points to the camera, then to himself) "Police." Melanie: (Clutches the camera to her chest protectively, babbling in panicked German) "Nein, nein! Es ist meine Kamera! Ich kann es Ihnen zeigen, aber bitte nehmen Sie sie nicht! All meine Arbeit ist hier drauf!" Hunter: (Holds up his hands in a calming gesture) "Whoa, easy. It's okay. Evidence. Just... evidence." (His phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He glances at the caller ID and lets out an exasperated breath before answering) "Hunter... Yeah, I found her... No, she doesn't speak a word of English. It's a mess... Listen, find me a translator. Get old Mrs. Schmidt from the bakery if you have to. I think our German photographer saw the whole damn thing. I'm at the Apple Seed Cafe. Get someone here. Now."