Run: 2026-02-25-01KJ95FVHGW8MQPK71NZGEXARJ

Maria is sitting at a charming, albeit slightly rustic, cafe in Alborn, the aroma of cinnamon and coffee warming the air. Her digital camera rests on the table beside a half-empty mug, its screen displaying a breathtaking shot of the town's apple orchards draped in early morning mist. She studies the image intently, then scrolls to another, her brow slightly furrowed with a distant worry. Hunter enters the cafe, his presence a sharp contrast to the cozy ambiance. His gaze sweeps the room, settling on Maria like a heat-seeking missile. He walks directly to her table, his worn leather jacket creaking faintly. Hunter: "Excuse me. Mind if I join you for a minute?" *He doesn't wait for an answer, pulling out the opposite chair and sitting down, his eyes steady on Maria's. He glances at her camera.* "Detective Hunter. I'm investigating some recent events in town. Saw you sketching around yesterday near the old mill. You new here?" Maria: "Lo siento. No entiendo." (I'm sorry. I don't understand.) *She looks up, startled by the sudden intrusion. Her eyes, wide set and dark, flicker between Hunter and his imposing frame. She instinctively pulls her camera slightly closer, her grip tightening.* Hunter: *His brow furrows slightly. He tries again, slower, projecting his voice.* "I'm a detective. I need to ask you about... the disappearances. Have you seen anything? Anyone suspicious?" Maria: "¡Oh, Dios mío! Sí, sí… Es terrible. La mujer… se esfumó. Ayer, cerca del río. Nadie la vio, solo… ¡un coche oscuro! Tenía tanto miedo, no me atreví a acercarme. ¡Qué horror!" (Oh, my God! Yes, yes… It's terrible. The woman… she vanished. Yesterday, near the river. Nobody saw her, only… a dark car! I was so scared, I didn't dare go closer. How horrible!) *Her eyes widen further with terror. The word "disappearances" (desapariciones) has clearly resonated. Her face pales, and she clutches her camera, shaking her head vigorously as the words tumble out in a rush of fear.* Hunter: *He stares at her, completely lost in the torrent of rapid Spanish. Her distress is undeniable – the fear in her eyes, the tremor in her hands. He leans forward, trying to break through the language barrier.* "Whoa, whoa. Slow down. I don't understand you, ma'am. Can you… English? Parlez-vous anglais?" *He winces slightly at his own abysmal attempt at French.* Maria: "No English. Solo español. La mujer… ¡Desapareció! ¡Un coche negro! Yo… yo la vi." (No English. Only Spanish. The woman… She disappeared! A black car! I… I saw her.) *Shakes her head, her eyes still wide with fear and frustration. She gestures vaguely towards the window, then makes a 'disappearing' motion with her hands, desperate for him to understand.* Hunter: *He sighs, running a hand over his face. This is going nowhere fast. He tries a different tack, pointing to her camera.* "Did you… take a picture? Of what you saw?" Maria: "No… no. Estaba demasiado asustada. Estaba escondida. El coche se fue muy rápido." (No… no. I was too scared. I was hiding. The car left very quickly.) *Looks down at her camera, then back at Hunter, a flicker of comprehension. She quickly scrolls through her recent photos, but there's nothing of the event. Her hands tremble as she shows him a few landscape shots, apologetically shaking her head.* Hunter: *Hunter looks at the scenic photos on her camera screen, then back at Maria, defeated. He can tell she saw *something*, but he can't get to it without a translator. He pushes a hand through his hair.* "Look, I – I really need to understand what you're saying. Is there anyone here who can translate? Anyone at this cafe?" *He glances around, but the few other patrons are engrossed in their own conversations, oblivious.* Maria: "No lo sé. Lo siento. Es muy difícil." (I don't know. I'm sorry. It's very difficult.) *Looks around, then shrugs, a gesture of helplessness. Her eyes convey intense regret and fear. She's clearly troubled by the memory she can't share.* Hunter: *Just as he's about to try another desperate line of inquiry, his phone buzzes insistently in his pocket. He pulls it out, his face immediately grim as he sees the caller ID. He presses it to his ear.* "Hunter. Yeah… What? When? I'm on my way." *He snaps the phone shut, his earlier frustration replaced by urgent intensity. He stands abruptly, his chair scraping loudly on the floor.* "Look, I have to go. This is important. Do not leave town. I'll find someone to translate. Stay here, or I'll find you. Understand?" Maria: "Sí… Sí, entiendo." (Yes… Yes, I understand.) *Doesn't understand the words, but the sudden urgency in his voice, his sharp tone, and his abrupt departure are clear enough. She nods slowly, a fresh wave of anxiety washing over her.* Hunter: *Nods once, sharply, and strides out of the cafe without another word, leaving Maria alone, still clutching her camera, her heart thumping against her ribs, the scent of coffee now doing little to calm her shaken nerves.*