Run: 2026-02-08-01KGYXJ4FJKMGPQN9TTNNCWKVP

Melanie: "..." Hunter: "..." *** **Setting:** A small, cozy cafe in Alborn, MN. The smell of coffee and baked apples hangs in the air. Melanie sits alone at a small table by the window, her camera in her lap, reviewing photos on the small screen. Hunter approaches her table. *** Hunter: "Excuse me? Ma'am?" (Melanie looks up, startled, her eyes wide.) Hunter: "Sorry to bother you. My name is Detective Hunter. I'm with the Alborn Police Department. I'm asking some folks around town about the disappearance of Mr. Gable. You were out near the old mill yesterday, weren't you? With that camera?" Melanie: "Ich... ich verstehe nicht. Was... was wollen Sie?" Hunter: "Whoa, slow down. I don't... what language is that? Ma'am, do you speak English?" Melanie: "Nein, kein Englisch. Bitte... ich habe etwas gesehen. Es war schrecklich. Ein Mann... er schrie!" Hunter: "Right. No English. Okay. Look, just... calm down." (He holds up his hands, trying to look non-threatening.) "I'm a police officer. Police." Melanie: "Polizei? Ja, ich verstehe. Aber... er war einfach... weg. Am See. Die Fotos... meine Fotos!" Hunter: "Photos? Okay, photos. You were taking pictures at the lake?" (He points towards the window, in the general direction of the lake.) "Miller's Pond?" Melanie: "Ja! Miller's Pond! Genau da! Er stand da, und dann... poof! Nichts mehr! Ich habe es mit der Kamera gesehen, aber... es ist nicht da. Es ist nicht auf den Fotos!" Hunter: "Alright, 'poof' and 'gone.' I'm getting that. But who was gone? Was it Mr. Gable? An older fella, wore a tweed jacket?" Melanie: "Ich weiß nicht, wer das ist! Schauen Sie! Schauen Sie sich das an! Hier, auf diesem Bild... sehen Sie die Störung im Wasser? Und dann... hier... ist nichts!" (She turns the camera to show him the screen, frantically scrolling between two photos. Hunter squints, trying to make sense of the images.) Hunter: "I see... ripples in the water. And then... nothing. Ma'am, I need you to try and understand me. This is very important. Did you see anyone else?" Melanie: "Niemand! Es war niemand da! Nur ich und... und er. Und dann war er weg. Es war ein Geist, es muss ein Geist gewesen sein!" (Hunter's phone rings, a sharp, insistent trill. He pulls it from his pocket, his eyes still on the camera screen.) Hunter: "Hunter." (He listens for a moment, his expression shifting from confusion to urgency.) "You're sure?... Alright. I'm on my way." (He ends the call and shoves the phone back in his pocket. He looks at Melanie, who is watching him with pleading, terrified eyes.) Hunter: "Look... I have to go. Just... stay here. Don't leave town, you understand? Stay." (He points a finger at her, then down at the floor of the cafe, trying to convey "stay put.") Melanie: "Aber... Sie gehen? Was ist mit mir? Wer wird mir glauben?" (Hunter gives her one last, frustrated look, then turns and walks quickly out of the cafe, leaving Melanie staring after him, her camera clutched in her trembling hands.) Melanie: "Niemand..."