Run: 2026-03-12-01KKFQHH1G3ANWEEQV90QZT71R

Melanie: *(muttering to herself in German while scrolling through her camera photos)* "Diese Bilder sind so schön... aber das hier – das ist merkwürdig. Was ist das am Rand des Fotos?" Hunter: *(approaching the table, flipping open his badge)* "Excuse me – ma'am? I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating some happenings around town and I noticed you with that camera. You been taking pictures around Alborn lately?" Melanie: *(looking up, startled, clutching her camera to her chest)* "Oh! Polizei? Entschuldigung – ich spreche kein Englisch. Deutsch. Ich spreche nur Deutsch." *(She gestures nervously between herself and him, shaking her head.)* Hunter: *(blinking, furrowing his brow)* "I'm sorry – what was that? Do you... speak English at all?" Melanie: *(shaking her head vigorously, pointing to herself)* "Nein, nein. Kein Englisch. Deutsch." *(She holds up her camera and shows him a photo – a grainy image of someone near the old orchard at dusk. She taps the screen with a trembling finger, speaking rapidly.)* "Ich habe das heute Morgen fotografiert. Dort am Apfelhain. Jemand war dort – sehr spät. Es hat mich erschrecken." Hunter: *(leaning in, squinting at the screen, then leaning back with a sigh)* "I really wish I knew what you were saying. That... is definitely German, isn't it?" Melanie: *(nodding, then flipping to another photo and showing him. Her hands are shaking. She speaks slowly, enunciating each word as if volume might help bridge the language gap.)* "Bit-te. Schau – dort. Die Person. Sie war... weg. Dann – verschwunden. Ver-stehen?" Hunter: *(rubbing the back of his neck, glancing around the cafe)* "Okay. 'Bitte' – that means please, right? I got that much. You want me to look at something?" *(He gestures at the camera.)* "This – you want to show me this?" Melanie: *(nodding frantically, pointing at the photo)* "Ja! Ja! Dort – die Person. Verschwunden!" *(She mimes someone walking and then disappearing, waving her hands apart. Her eyes are wide, genuinely shaken.)* Hunter: *(watching her mime, his expression shifting from confusion to concern)* "Verschwunden... disappeared? Someone disappeared?" *(He points at the photo, then makes a walking motion with his fingers and flattens his hand flat.)* "Gone?" Melanie: *(exhaling with relief, nodding rapidly)* "Ja! Verschwunden! Gone!" *(She pulls the camera back and scrolls to another photo, her face paling. She shows it to him – a dark figure near the tree line, barely visible.)* "Heute Nacht. Ich habe – ich habe gehört Geräusche. Und dann – das." Hunter: *(his jaw tightening, staring at the photo. He pulls out a small notebook.)* "I don't understand a word you're saying, but those photos are... look, I'm going to find someone who can translate. Can you stay here?" Melanie: *(staring at him blankly)* "Übersetzer? Sie meinen – jemand, der Deutsch spricht?" Hunter: *(pointing at her, then at the chair)* "Stay. Right here. Okay?" Melanie: *(understanding his gesture, she nods slowly, wrapping her arms around her camera)* "Okay. Okay, ich bleibe hier." Hunter: *(standing, pulling out his phone and dialing)* "Yeah, it's Hunter. Listen, I need a German translator down at the Alborn café on Main Street. No, I don't know why we have a German tourist in Alborn either. Just send someone." *(He pauses, listening, then glances back at Melanie.)* "Yeah. I think she might've seen something near the orchard. Could be connected to the cases." *(Another pause.)* "How long? ...Fine. I'll sit tight." *(He hangs up, pocketing his phone, and sits down across from Melanie with a heavy sigh.)* "They're sending someone. Might take twenty minutes." Melanie: *(watching him sit, offering a small, uncertain smile)* "Zwanzig Minuten? Okay." *(She clutches her camera tighter and stares down at the photo of the dark figure near the trees. She whispers to herself.)* "Ich hoffe, er kann mir helfen..." Hunter: *(not understanding a word, but recognizing fear when he sees it. He leans forward, his voice steady and calm.)* "Hey. Whatever you saw – we're going to figure it out. That's what I do." Melanie: *(looking up, meeting his gaze. She nods, though her eyes remain troubled.)* "Danke." Hunter: *(a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth)* "Yeah. 'Danke' I know."