Run: 2026-03-18-01KM088C16T2HV9ZQNMFN1F19H

Marie: “Excusez-moi… c’est mon appareil, je… je regarde seulement les photos.” Hunter: “Yeah. I’m not here to bother your camera. I’m Detective Hunter. You’re new in town?” Marie: “Oui. Je m’appelle Marie.” *[She keeps her eyes on her lens, fingers tightening slightly on the strap.]* “Je suis venue pour étudier… et photographier.” Hunter: “Study abroad, huh? Good for you. Listen—there’s been a string of disappearances. I’m trying to figure out who was seen around the apple festival grounds last week.” Marie: “Les disparitions…” *[Her voice falters. She turns the camera so the back faces her, as if the screen might help.]* “Je… je n’ai rien fait de mal. Mais j’ai vu quelque chose.” Hunter: “Saw something. What?” Marie: “Le soir… quand tout était encore… joyeux.” *[She swallows.]* “J’ai pris des photos près de la clôture. Il y avait une voiture—je ne connais pas la marque. Et… une femme, seule. Elle semblait attendre quelqu’un.” Hunter: “A woman waiting for someone. Describe her.” Marie: “Je ne sais pas si je peux.” *[She shakes her head once, quick and sharp.]* “Elle portait… un manteau bleu, je crois. Et elle avait les yeux… comme si elle avait peur.” Hunter: “Blue coat. Any other details? Hair? Height? What did she do?” Marie: “Elle a parlé avec quelqu’un.” *[Her hands move toward the camera as if she’s trying to translate with it.]* “Mais je n’ai entendu… qu’une voix—non, deux—et ensuite… plus rien. Après, je n’ai plus trouvé la voiture. La lumière a changé, et… elle n’était plus là.” Hunter: “So you saw her, then she was gone. You’re telling me she disappeared.” Marie: “Je ne dis pas… je ne dis pas ‘disparue’ comme ça.” *[Her eyes shine, troubled.]* “Je dis… qu’elle n’était plus.” Hunter: “Okay. That’s enough to work with. You got photos?” Marie: “J’ai… peut-être.” *[She exhales, shaky.]* “Mais quand je regarde l’image… je ne comprends pas pourquoi je ne vois presque rien. C’est… flou, et il y a quelque chose qui n’est pas normal.” Hunter: “Not normal how?” Marie: “Comme si… l’endroit était vide, mais mon appareil a enregistré… une forme.” *[She fumbles, lowering her gaze to the camera, tapping the screen with trembling focus.]* “Je—je suis désolée. Je suis bouleversée.” Hunter: “Hey. Slow down. Breathe.” *[He leans closer, trying to see the screen. His brow furrows.]* “You said ‘shape.’ What shape?” Marie: “Une silhouette. Très sombre.” *[She searches his face for comprehension, then realizes she’s speaking to a wall.]* “Je… je peux vous montrer.” Hunter: “I can look, sure. But you’re talking like… you’re not speaking English.” Marie: “Non… pas encore.” *[Her smile is small and apologetic.]* “Je suis désolée. Je ne connais pas… beaucoup.” Hunter: “That’s what I figured.” *[He stands back half a step, clearly frustrated but not unkind.]* “I don’t know French. I can’t—” Marie: “Alors… je vous écris?” *[She gestures toward a napkin, then stops, embarrassed.]* “Je suis… pas prête. Je pensais pouvoir expliquer.” Hunter: “No worries. We’ll make it work.” *[He points at the camera.]* “Show me the photo. Then we’ll figure out the rest with gestures and maps.” Marie: “D’accord.” *[She turns the camera toward him, speaking faster as if speed will bridge the gap.]* “Regardez… ici. Juste là. Le fond… et—” Hunter: “Hold on.” *[He studies the screen. His expression tightens, confusion giving way to concern.]* “I see something. That’s… not nothing.” Marie: “Oui.” *[A trembling breath.]* “Et c’est pourquoi je suis… inquiète.” Hunter: “I need your name and where you were standing when you took it.” Marie: “Je vous l’ai dit: Marie.” *[She points to herself carefully, then points toward the window, then the café door.]* “J’étais… dehors. Vers la clôture.” Hunter: “Apple festival grounds. Okay.” *[He checks his phone.]* “Last question—did anyone approach you while you were photographing?” Marie: “Je… oui.” *[Her shoulders tense.]* “Un homme. Il m’a regardée, puis… il a regardé la femme.” Hunter: “What did he say?” Marie: “Je n’ai pas compris les mots.” *[She shakes her head, frightened.]* “Mais il a souri comme… comme s’il connaissait tout le monde.” Hunter: “Great.” *[He exhales through his nose, and his no-nonsense tone sharpens.]* “That’s something. I’m going to write that down.” Marie: “Je suis désolée. Je ne peux pas aider mieux.” Hunter: “You helped enough.” *[His phone buzzes again—he glances, and his whole posture changes.]* “Detective Hunter.” Hunter: “Yeah… what?” *—A pause as he listens, voice tightening—* Hunter: “On the north side? How long ago?” Marie: “On… quoi?” Hunter: “I need to go.” *[He looks back at her, urgent but controlled.]* “Stay here. Don’t leave the café. If anyone asks for you, you call me.” Marie: “Je… je n’ai pas votre numéro.” Hunter: “I’ll text it.” *[He opens his contacts, then hands the phone to her long enough to show the screen.]* “Your study program—who’s in charge?” Marie: “Madame Lefèvre. Elle travaille à l’université.” Hunter: “Okay. Get her number too. Copy it if you can.” Marie: “D’accord.” *[She nods quickly, still shaken.]* “Et… et les photos—vous les gardez?” Hunter: “I’ll take them.” *[He points once at the camera.]* “But you don’t give anything to anyone else. Understood?” Marie: “Oui.” *[Her voice drops.]* “S’il vous plaît… faites attention.” Hunter: “Always.” *[He steps away, then turns back as if remembering the biggest problem.]* “And Marie—if you hear anything in English later, I’ll need you to try to tell me. Even one word can matter.” Marie: “Je vais essayer.” *[She adjusts the strap and steadies the camera with both hands, watching him go.]* “Je promets.”