Run: 2026-03-03-01KJV0514ATHJAVS7YS4RY7W8S

The autumn wind rattled the windows of the Alborn Coffee House, carrying the crisp scent of the upcoming apple festival. Melanie sat by the window, her lens hood clicking softly as she reviewed a series of photos on her digital display. Her brow furrowed, her lips pulled into a tight, thin line. Detective Hunter pulled out the wooden chair opposite her, the metal legs scraping against the floorboards with a jarring screech. He didn't wait for an invitation, setting his heavy, worn notebook on the table. He kept his eyes on her camera, then looked up at her face, his expression hardened by years of service. *** **Hunter:** "Excuse me, Miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I’ve been looking for anyone who was out near the orchard yesterday afternoon. I believe you were seen with that camera?" **Melanie:** (Startled, she pulls the camera to her chest, her eyes wide) "Oh... entschuldigen Sie. Ich verstehe kein Wort. Was passiert hier eigentlich? Es ist alles so... seltsam. Ich habe gestern diese Bilder gemacht, aber ich hätte sie niemals sehen sollen." **Hunter:** (He leans forward, tilting his head with a frown, hands held up in a gesture of confusion) "Slow down, okay? Look, I just need to know if you saw anyone out by the North gate around four o'clock. Did you see a dark sedan?" **Melanie:** (Her hands tremble slightly as she points to a photo on her display, her voice rising in pitch) "Sehen Sie doch! Da, hinter den Bäumen! Es war nicht nur ein Auto, es war eine Person. Ich habe versucht zu rufen, aber sie haben mich nicht gehört. Diese Stadt fühlt sich... sie fühlt sich nicht mehr sicher an. Bitte, verstehen Sie mich nicht?" **Hunter:** (Rubbing the back of his neck, clearly frustrated) "Listen, I don’t speak a word of whatever that is. Just... point. Okay? Point to where you think they went." **Melanie:** (She sighs, a look of profound isolation crossing her features. She turns the camera away, hugging it closer as if shielding it from him.) "Es ist zwecklos. Niemand versteht mich. Ich wollte nur schöne Landschaften fotografieren, kein Verbrechen." **Hunter:** (He sighs, his badge catching the light as he brushes it with his thumb. Suddenly, his radio crackles against his belt, a harsh, static-filled burst of sound. He listens for a second, his face turning grim.) **Hunter:** "Damn it. Look, stay put if you can. I have a situation I need to handle—a report over on Elm Street. We are going to have to finish this later. I’ll be back." (Hunter stands up abruptly, snatching his notebook and walking briskly toward the door without looking back.) **Melanie:** (Softly, to the empty seat) "Wieder einer, der einfach geht. Alle rennen weg in dieser Stadt."