## Voice Sheet: A Confused Encounter **Setting:** A cozy cafe in Alborn, MN. Maria is at a small table, intently reviewing photos on her camera. --- **Hunter:** (Approaching Maria’s table, his voice direct but not harsh) Excuse me, ma'am. Do you have a moment? I'm Detective Hunter. **Maria:** (Looks up, startled by the sudden voice. Her eyes are wide, and she clutches her camera a little tighter. She stares at him, her brow furrowed in confusion.) ¿Sí? **Hunter:** (Slightly thrown by the Spanish, but presses on, trying to make himself understood with gestures) I'm investigating… a local incident. The disappearances. Were you… around the town square last Tuesday? Or perhaps… near the old orchard? **Maria:** (Her face pales further. She shakes her head vigorously, her breath catching in her throat. She speaks quickly, her voice tinged with fear and distress.) ¡No, no! Yo… yo no estaba allí. ¡Es terrible! Mis amigos… no sé dónde están. ¡Estoy tan asustada! **Hunter:** (His confusion visibly deepens. He holds up a hand, trying to signal for her to slow down. He picks out the word "amigos" but most of it is a jumble.) Uh… I didn't catch that. Do you… do you speak English? **Maria:** (Her eyes welling up with tears, she shakes her head again, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek.) No… lo siento. No hablo inglés. **Hunter:** (He sighs, running a hand through his hair. This is going to be difficult. He tries another approach, speaking slowly and clearly, pointing to himself and then around the cafe.) I… need to understand. About… the people. Missing. Did you… *see* anything? Anything unusual? **Maria:** (She looks at him for a long moment, a tremor running through her. She understands "see" and "missing." She swallows hard, then speaks, her voice hushed and trembling.) Algo… algo no está bien aquí. Vi… vi sombras. En la noche. Cerca del festival de la manzana. Pero… no estoy segura. Era muy oscuro. Tengo miedo. Mucho miedo. **Hunter:** (He’s trying to decipher her words, catching "sombras" – shadows – and "oscuro" – dark. The mention of the apple festival piques his interest. He leans forward slightly, looking intently at her.) Shadows? When? Can you tell me… what kind of shadows? **Maria:** (She shivers, wrapping her arms around herself. Her gaze flickers nervously around the cafe.) Grandes. Muy grandes. Y el silencio… un silencio diferente. No… no era el pueblo normal. **Hunter:** (He’s getting very little, and the language barrier is a brick wall. He sees the genuine distress in her eyes, though. He’s about to try a different tactic when his phone vibrates loudly. He pulls it out, his expression darkening as he sees the caller ID.) Excuse me. **Hunter:** (Into the phone, his voice now all business and urgency) Hunter here. … What? … I’m on my way. **Hunter:** (He snaps the phone shut, looking back at Maria with a frustrated apology in his eyes. He gives her a brief, almost regretful nod.) I'm sorry. I have to go. Urgently. Thank you… for your time. **Maria:** (Watches him go, wide-eyed and still trembling a little. She whispers to herself as he hurries out the door.) Dios mío…