Run: 2026-03-03-01KJV0FSGSEHDDJ38EC48MMHRB

The scent of spiced cider hung heavy in the air of the Alborn coffee shop, a stark contrast to the biting Minnesota chill rattling the windowpanes. Melanie sat in the corner booth, her heavy DSLR camera resting on the laminate table like a precious artifact. She was scrubbing through the digital files on the small screen, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. Hunter pushed the heavy glass door open, his boots heavy against the floorboards. His gaze scanned the room before landing on the student. He adjusted his coat, a habit from his Marine days, and pulled out the chair opposite her. He didn't ask—he didn't have the patience for formalities today. **Hunter:** "Miss? I’m Detective Hunter. I’d like to ask you a few questions about what you were doing near the orchard yesterday afternoon. People saw you in the brush right before the disappearance." **Melanie:** *(Her eyes widen, jumping back slightly as she clutches her camera to her chest. Her voice comes out rushed, high-pitched, and trembling.)* "Entschuldigung? Was meinen Sie? Ich habe nichts gesehen! Ich habe nur die Bäume fotografiert, das Licht war so wunderschön... Gott, warum schauen Sie mich so an? Bitte, ich habe nichts getan!" **Hunter:** *(He frowns, leaning back and tapping a pen against his chin, looking entirely bewildered.)* "I’m going to need you to slow down. I don’t follow. Was there someone else in the orchard with you? A man? A car?" **Melanie:** *(She gestures frantically to the display on her camera, swiping to a photo of a blurred figure in the distance. Tears well in her eyes.)* "Sehen Sie! Da! Er stand hinter dem alten Apfelspeicher. Er hat mich beobachtet, ich habe es erst zu spät bemerkt. Ich habe Angst. Alles hier ist so seltsam... warum hilft mir niemand?" **Hunter:** *(He stares at the back of the camera, sighing in frustration. He points to the photo, then to the door, then back at her, shaking his head.)* "Look, I’m getting nothing here. You speaking German or something? Look, just—stay here. Don’t leave town, alright?" *(Hunter’s radio crackles sharply against his hip, drowning out the ambient indie folk music in the cafe. He listens to a rapid-fire update on the other end, his jaw tightening.)* **Hunter:** "Dammit. Fine. I’ve got to go. Keep that camera safe—don't delete anything on there. Do you understand? *Do not* delete those files." **Melanie:** *(She wipes her eyes, looking at him with a mix of exhaustion and total incomprehension.)* "Ich verstehe kein Wort. Bitte... gehen Sie einfach." **Hunter:** *(He stands up abruptly, pushing his chair in with a harsh scrape.)* "Whatever. Keep it where I can find you."