Run: 2026-03-11-01KKFKQANG5BTET425K6EK265M

**Location:** Alborn Daily Grind Café, Main Street **Time:** Late afternoon, autumn sunlight slanting through windows. *(Selvi is seated alone at a small table near the window, her camera bag at her feet. She is gently wiping the lens of her DSLR with a microfiber cloth, her brow furrowed in concentration or worry. Detective Hunter, in a worn leather jacket, approaches the table.)* **Hunter:** Excuse me. Mind if I sit? I’m Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. *(Selvi looks up, startled. She gives a small, hesitant nod, gesturing to the opposite chair. Her eyes are wide with a mix of anxiety and curiosity.)* **Hunter:** Thanks. I’m following up on some recent… events. You’ve been in town a few weeks, right? Seen or heard anything unusual? Anything out of place? *(Selvi’s expression shifts to one of deep distress. Her hands tremble slightly as she grips her camera.)* **Selvi:** *(in Hindi, voice low and shaky)* हाँ… हाँ, मैंने कुछ देखा था। परसों रात, बारिश के बाद। मैं तस्वीरें ले रही थी, सड़क के किनारे एक पुराने पेड़ की… और फिर मुझे एक कार दिखी। एक पुरानी, गंदी काली कार। वह बहुत धीरे चल रही थी… जैसे कोई ढूंढ रहा हो। और उसके अंदर… मुझे लगता है कि किसी को बंधक बनाया गया था। मैंने उसके हाथ देखे, जो खिड़की पर थे… वे कांप रहे थे। बहुत डर गई थी मैं। मैं तुरंत अपने अपार्टमेंट भागी। *(Hunter stares, his professional calm cracking into pure confusion. He leans forward, trying to decipher her tone and gestures.)* **Hunter:** Whoa, slow down. I… I don’t understand. Hindi? I only speak English. Are you… are you trying to tell me you saw something? Something with a car? *(Selvi points frantically out the window at the dark, wet street. She mimes holding a camera, then points to her own eyes, then makes a scared face and mimes something struggling in her hands.)* **Selvi:** *(switching to broken, halting English)* Car… bad car. Night. I… photograph. Then… someone… inside… scared. Very scared. I… run. **Hunter:** Someone scared inside a car? Did you see a face? A license plate? Did you report this? *(Selvi shakes her head vigorously, her Hindi returning in a rush as frustration mounts.)* **Selvi:** नहीं! नहीं, मैंने रिपोर्ट नहीं किया! मुझे डर लग रहा था! मैं यहाँ अकेली हूँ, मुझे बस अपनी पढ़ाई पूरी करनी है… लेकिन यह बहुत गलत था। बहुत गलत। *(I didn't! I didn't report it! I was scared! I'm alone here, I just want to finish my studies… but it was very wrong. Very wrong.)* **Hunter:** Okay, okay. I need you to try and tell me where this was. Point. Can you show me on a map? The car, the person—anything you remember. Every detail matters. *(Just as Selvi’s mouth opens, his police radio chirps urgently on his belt. He holds up a finger to her, turning away slightly.)* **Hunter:** *(into radio, low and urgent)* Hunter here. Go ahead… Copy that. On my way. *(He turns back to Selvi, already pulling out his wallet to leave cash for her coffee. His demeanor is now all business, the moment of connection shattered by duty.)* **Hunter:** I have to go. That was a new development. Don’t leave town, okay? And if you remember anything else—*anything*—even if you have to use charades—find me at the station. Or call this number. *(He jots a number on a napkin and slides it toward her. Selvi nods mutely, her eyes still haunted. Hunter gives her one last concerned look, then strides out of the café, leaving her alone with her camera and her fear.)*