# Voice Sheet: The Café Encounter --- *Setting: A small café on Main Street in Alborn, MN. Melanie sits alone at a corner table near the window, scrolling through photos on her camera. A half-finished cup of coffee sits beside her. Hunter enters, badge visible on his belt, and approaches her table.* --- Hunter: "Afternoon, ma'am. Mind if I sit down for a moment? I'm Detective Hunter Graves with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office." Melanie: *glances up from her camera, eyes uncertain* "Hallo... Entschuldigung, ich... ich verstehe nicht." Hunter: "I'm sorry — do you... speak English? English?" Melanie: *shakes her head slowly* "Nein, nein... kein Englisch. Tut mir leid. Ich spreche nur Deutsch." Hunter: *pauses, then speaks slowly, gesturing toward the street* "I'm investigating... some disappearances. People — gone. Missing." *mimes looking around, shrugging with open palms* "Have you seen anything... unusual?" Melanie: *her face drains of color; she clutches her camera tighter* "Oh Gott... die Verschwundenen? Ja — ja, ich habe etwas gesehen. Gestern Nacht, am Waldrand. Da war jemand... eine Gestalt. Ich habe Fotos gemacht, aber ich... ich hatte solche Angst." *her voice trembles* "Ich wollte es jemandem sagen, aber ich wusste nicht, wie. Ich spreche doch kein Englisch!" Hunter: *leans forward, brow furrowed* "I — I'm sorry, I don't understand a word of that. But you look upset. Are you okay? Did something happen to you?" Melanie: *points to her camera, then toward the window, toward the tree line beyond the town* "Hier — schauen Sie. Schauen Sie die Bilder an." *she turns the camera screen toward him, scrolling through dark, grainy nighttime photos of a wooded trail — and in one frame, the unmistakable silhouette of a figure dragging something* Hunter: *his eyes widen* "Hold on — is that... When did you take this? Last night?" *points at the photo, then holds up one finger* "One day? Yesterday?" Melanie: *nods vigorously* "Ja! Ja, gestern! Gestern Nacht!" *holds up one finger, mimicking him, then points toward the darkness in the photo* "Da war jemand. Ein Mann, glaube ich. Er hat etwas... oder jemanden... hinter sich hergezogen. Ich bin weggerannt. Ich hatte so große Angst. Meine Hände haben gezittert." Hunter: *runs a hand through his hair* "God, I wish I could understand you. Okay, look — can I..." *mimes taking the camera, then points to his eyes* "Can I look? More photos?" Melanie: *hesitates, then nods, handing the camera over carefully* "Ja, bitte. Bitte schauen Sie sich alles an. Vielleicht können Sie herausfinden, wer das war. Ich habe so ein schreckliches Gefühl bei der Sache." Hunter: *scrolls through the images slowly, his jaw tightening* "These are from the north trail, by Henderson's property. That's right where..." *trails off, muttering to himself* "This could be the break we needed." Melanie: *watches his face anxiously* "Verstehen Sie jetzt? Ist das wichtig? Bitte — ich möchte helfen. Ich möchte nur, dass alle in Sicherheit sind. Diese kleine Stadt... die Leute hier waren so freundlich zu mir." Hunter: *looks up at her, nods reassuringly, placing a hand briefly on the table* "Thank you. I think you might have captured something really important here. I just need to find someone who can translate for —" *His phone rings sharply. He pulls it from his jacket pocket.* Hunter: "Graves here." *listens, his expression hardening* "Another one? Where — the orchard? I'm on my way." *hangs up and stands abruptly, then looks at Melanie with urgency* "I have to go. But I need to talk to you again. Please — stay in town." *mimes staying, pressing his palms down* "Stay. Here. Okay?" Melanie: *stands halfway, alarmed by his sudden shift* "Was ist passiert? Ist es wieder passiert? Oh nein..." *presses her hand to her mouth* Hunter: *pulls a business card from his pocket and sets it on the table in front of her, tapping it* "Call me. Call this number. And if you see anything else —" *points to her camera, then to his eyes, then to the card* "— call." Melanie: *picks up the card, nodding slowly, her eyes wide and glistening* "Ja... ja, ich verstehe. Ich rufe an. Bitte... bitte seien Sie vorsichtig da draußen." Hunter: *pauses at the door, looks back at her one more time — something in her expression needs no translation* "I'll be back. I promise." *He pushes through the café door and disappears into the gray afternoon. Melanie sinks back into her chair, turns the business card over in her fingers, and looks down at her camera — at the dark shape frozen on the screen — and whispers:* Melanie: "Was geht nur vor in dieser Stadt..." --- *End of scene.*