Run: 2026-02-16-01KHK1FDWYHCHB0YFN6TPJBFT0

**Scene Context:** *The air inside "The Crisp Apple Cafe" in Alborn, MN, smells of cinnamon and brewing coffee. Outside, preparations for the annual apple festival are underway, but inside, the mood is quiet. Maria sits by the window, her fingers trembling slightly as she scrolls through photos on her camera's display. Detective Hunter, looking out of place in his heavy coat amidst the cozy decor, approaches her table with a notebook in hand.* **Maria:** "No puedo dejar de mirarla... la luz era perfecta, pero lo que capturó... Dios mío, no debería haber estado allí." **Hunter:** "Excuse me, miss? I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn PD. I'm looking into the disappearance near the orchards yesterday. Did you happen to see anything unusual while you were taking pictures?" **Maria:** "¿Qué? No... no entiendo. Habla demasiado rápido. Yo... yo vi algo, sí. Un hombre, creo. Pero no era normal. Estaba arrastrando algo pesado hacia los árboles viejos. Tenía miedo, mucho miedo." **Hunter:** "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish. Do you speak English? Even just a little? I need to know if you witnessed a crime." **Maria:** "No hablo inglés. Solo español. Por favor, necesito ayuda. ¿Dónde está mi profesor? Él sabría qué hacer. Las fotos... mire las fotos." *(She frantically turns the camera screen toward him, pointing at a blurry figure in the background of a landscape shot.)* "¡Mire! ¡Allí!" **Hunter:** "Whoa, slow down. I can't understand a word you're saying. You're pointing at the screen, but I don't know what I'm looking at. Is this about the missing hiker? Did you see him?" **Maria:** "¡Sí, sí! El hombre de la foto. No era el senderista. Era otro. Con una capucha. Se llevó algo... o a alguien. Me escondí detrás del roble y tomé la foto con la mano temblando. ¡Tengo que decírselo a alguien que me entienda!" **Hunter:** "Look, ma'am, you're clearly upset, and I want to help, but we have a language barrier here. I'm going to need to find a translator or someone who speaks your language. Did you write anything down? A name? A description?" **Maria:** "No hay nombres. Solo miedo. Mucho frío en el bosque. ¿Por qué nadie me entiende? Necesito decirle que el hombre llevaba guantes rojos. Guantes rojos de jardinero, pero sucios de tierra oscura." **Hunter:** "Red gloves? You're gesturing at your hands... okay, red gloves. That's something. If I can get someone here to translate, will you show me that photo again? We need to ID that figure immediately." **Maria:** "Sí, por favor. Pero tenga cuidado. Ese hombre... todavía podría estar cerca. Lo sentí observándome cuando tomé la foto. No estoy segura de estar a salvo aquí." **Hunter:** "I'm going to make sure you're safe, but I need to make a call to get a translator down here from Duluth. It might take an hour. Just stay put, don't leave the cafe." *(Hunter's phone buzzes loudly on the table. He glances at the screen, his expression hardening.)* **Hunter:** "Hold that thought. This is the Sheriff regarding another sighting up north. I have to take this; it sounds urgent. Stay right here, miss. Do not move. I'll be back with someone who speaks Spanish as soon as I can." **Maria:** "¿Se va? Pero... ¡espera! No me deje sola con la cámara. ¡Detective!" **Hunter:** *(Already walking backward toward the door, phone pressed to his ear)* "I know, I know. I'm coming. Keep her in sight, I'm stepping out for two minutes. Yeah, I got a witness, but she only speaks Spanish. Handling it. Over." *(Hunter exits the cafe, the bell chiming sharply, leaving Maria alone at the table, clutching her camera and staring after him in confusion and fear.)*