Run: 2026-02-19-01KHVPJ5A40GSAN78MCER64DXZ

**Hunter:** (Approaching the small cafe table, flashing his badge with a crisp, rigid posture) "Excuse me, ma'am. Detective Hunter. I'm investigating the incident that happened out by the apple festival grounds last night. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" **Maria:** (Gasping slightly, she nearly drops her digital camera. She clutches it to her chest, her eyes wide and troubled as she looks up at him) "¿Qué? No... lo siento, no hablo inglés. ¿Pasa algo? ¿Es usted la policía?" **Hunter:** (Frowning, his brow furrowing in deep confusion. He tilts his head) "Look, miss, I don't speak... whatever that is. Spanish? I just need to know if you were out taking pictures near the orchards yesterday." **Maria:** (Shaking her head frantically, her hands trembling as she gestures to the camera screen) "No entiendo nada de lo que dice. Pero tiene que ver esto. Yo estaba tomando fotos del paisaje, para mi clase... y vi las cintas amarillas hoy. En mi cámara... mire. Hay alguien entre los manzanos." **Hunter:** (Sighing heavily, his military-drilled patience wearing thin. He speaks slower, raising his voice slightly) "Orchards. Apple trees. Did. You. See. Anyone? We have three people missing in Alborn, miss. It's a town of three thousand people, someone had to see something." **Maria:** (Visibly frustrated and scared, shrinking back from his loud tone) "¡Por favor, no me grite! ¡Le estoy diciendo que no hablo inglés! Cero inglés. Solo soy una estudiante." (She shoves the camera toward him, pointing a shaking finger at the LCD screen) "¡Mire la pantalla! ¡Las sombras en el bosque!" **Hunter:** (Squinting at the camera screen, though his attention is divided) "I don't... is that a landscape shot? Listen, I don't know what you're trying to tell me. I need a translator. Do you understand 'translator'? Un momento?" **Maria:** (Her breathing hitches, leaning in urgently in a rapid stream of Spanish) "¡Es un hombre! Llevaba algo pesado hacia el bosque. Pasé mucho miedo, estaba completamente oscuro y..." **Hunter:** (His cell phone suddenly rings, a harsh, blaring metallic ringtone. He holds up a sharp index finger to silence her) "Hold that thought." (He answers the phone, his voice dropping to a brisk, all-business tone) "Hunter. Yeah? Are you kidding me? Another one? Down by the cider mill?" **Maria:** (Watching him anxiously, recognizing the shift in his demeanor) "¿Otro más? ¿Qué está pasando en este pueblo?" **Hunter:** (Hanging up the phone, his jaw tight. He points firmly at the table, using his authoritative marine bark) "I have to go. Do not leave Alborn. Understand? Stay. Here. I'm sending Deputy Miller—he took two years of high school Spanish. Don't go anywhere." **Maria:** (Clutching her camera tightly again as he turns on his heel and jogs toward his squad car) "¡Madre mía! ¡No me deje aquí sola si hay un asesino suelto! ¡Oiga! ¡Vuelva!"