# Voice Sheet: The Café Encounter --- Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. Mind if I sit down? I'm Detective Hunter with the county sheriff's office." Selvi: "..." *looks up from her camera, startled, then nods hesitantly* Hunter: "I'm going around talking to folks in town. Were you anywhere near the old mill on Route 7 last Tuesday evening? We had a woman go missing — Sarah Lindgren. Blonde, mid-forties?" Selvi: *eyes widening* "Haan... haan, main wahan thi. Maine kuch dekha — kuch bahut ajeeb. Ek aurat chillaa rahi thi, aur phir ek gaadi bahut tez aayi aur... aur sab kuch khamosh ho gaya." Hunter: "I'm sorry — I don't... Do you speak English?" Selvi: *shaking her head, visibly troubled* "Mujhe angrezi nahi aati. Lekin aap samjhiye — maine kuch dekha tha! Yeh bahut zaroori hai!" Hunter: "Okay, okay — I can see you're upset. That's... alright. Let me try this differently. The mill — the old building?" *mimes a building with his hands and points east* "Were you there?" Selvi: *nodding vigorously* "Haan! Haan, mill! Main wahan thi!" *holds up her camera, scrolling urgently through photos* "Yeh dekhiye — yeh photos. Maine sab kuch capture kiya. Yeh gaadi, yeh aadmi — inhone kuch kiya hai." Hunter: *leaning in, studying the camera screen* "Hold on — is that... is that a black pickup? Can you go back one? Back — the one before." Selvi: *scrolling back* "Yeh? Yeh wali photo? Iss aadmi ka chehra dhundhla hai, lekin gaadi ka number plate saaf dikh raha hai." Hunter: "That's a license plate. I can read that. Ma'am, this could be — this is important. Can I get copies of these? Copies?" *mimes taking a photo of the photo* Selvi: *understanding the gesture, nodding* "Haan, haan — aap le lijiye. Lekin aap samjhiye, main bahut dari hui hoon. Woh aadmi... usne mujhe dekh liya tha. Usne meri taraf dekha. Mujhe lagta hai woh jaanta hai ki maine photos li hain." Hunter: "You look scared. I wish I could understand what you're telling me. Are you in danger? Danger?" *makes an urgent expression, points at her, then mimes something threatening* Selvi: *nodding slowly, her hands trembling* "Haan. Khaatra. Mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai. Kal raat koi mere hostel ke bahar khada tha. Woh mujhe dhundh raha hai." Hunter: "Alright. Alright, I'm going to figure this out. I need to find someone who can translate. Is there anyone — do you have a friend? Someone who speaks...?" *gestures between them, mimicking conversation* Selvi: "Dost? Mere paas ek dost hai — Priya. Woh university mein hai. Woh angrezi bol sakti hai. Lekin woh aaj yahan nahi hai." Hunter: "I'm getting the sense there's a lot you want to tell me, and I need to hear it. Let me give you my card —" *pulls out a business card and sets it on the table* "My number. Phone." *mimes holding a phone to his ear* Selvi: *takes the card, studying it* "Theek hai. Main Priya ko call karungi, phir hum aapko phone karenge." Hunter: *his phone buzzes loudly; he answers* "Hunter here. ...What? Another one? Where — the trailhead by Pike Lake? I'm on my way." Selvi: *watching him, alarmed by his sudden change in expression* "Kya hua? Kuch aur ho gaya?" Hunter: *standing quickly, putting on his coat* "I have to go — there's been another... Look, keep those photos safe, alright? Safe." *mimes locking something, then points at her camera* "And be careful. Careful." *points at his eyes, then at the street outside* Selvi: *clutching her camera to her chest, nodding* "Main sambhal ke rahungi. Lekin jaldi aayiye wapas. Mujhe aapse bahut kuch kehna hai." Hunter: *pausing at the door, looking back at her with a mix of frustration and concern* "I'll be back. I promise. Just... stay safe." Selvi: *quietly, to herself as he disappears through the door* "Yeh sheher... yahan kuch bahut galat ho raha hai." --- *Selvi stares at the business card in her hand, then at the dark street outside the café window. She picks up her camera and scrolls back to the photo of the man by the black pickup. His face is blurred — but he is looking directly at her lens.*