Run: 2026-03-18-01KM08ASF7WYEBS0CA758NBS9V

**Isabella:** “Mi scusi… posso aiutarla?” **Hunter:** “That’s the thing, I’m looking for help. You’re the student, right? Study abroad. Isabella.” **Isabella:** “Sì… io sono Isabella.” **Hunter:** “Name’s Hunter. Detective Hunter. Alborn’s been seeing a rash of weird disappearances.” **Isabella:** “Sparizioni…?” *(pauses, eyes narrowing as she clutches the camera strap)* “Io… io non—” **Hunter:** “A couple days ago, a woman went missing after the apple festival preparations. People are saying someone saw her talking to an unfamiliar stranger near the old rail line.” **Isabella:** “Lì… vicino ai binari…?” *(she swallows, voice quieter)* “Io non parlo inglese bene… ma… ho visto qualcosa.” **Hunter:** “You saw something?” *(he leans in, blunt)* “What did you see?” **Isabella:** “Io… io vedevo persone, Hunter.” *(her mouth forms his name awkwardly)* “Era tardi. C’era una nebbia… e lei… una ragazza con un cappotto verde.” **Hunter:** “Green coat. Who was she with?” **Isabella:** “Io… non so.” *(she looks down at her camera, then back up, troubled)* “Ma c’era un uomo… con la giacca scura. Non parlava. Solo guardava.” **Hunter:** “Looked around. Didn’t say anything. Great. Anyone else?” **Isabella:** “Ho sentito un rumore. Come… come un fischio lontano.” *(her fingers tighten on the strap)* “E poi più niente. Il giorno dopo, ho capito… che lei non era tornata.” **Hunter:** “You didn’t report it?” **Isabella:** “Io… io ero sola.” *(shakes her head)* “E avevo paura. E adesso… adesso mi sento… come se mi stessero osservando.” **Hunter:** “Observed.” *(he frowns, taking in her tone)* “Are you telling me you think you’re a target?” **Isabella:** “Sì… ma non ho prove.” *(she forces herself to breathe)* “Perché… perché lei— la ragazza— guardava la mia macchina fotografica come se… come se sapesse.” **Hunter:** “Your camera? You mean you took pictures?” **Isabella:** “No, solo… guardavo.” *(her voice wavers)* “Paesaggi. Alberi. Luci.” **Hunter:** “Landscapes. Sure.” *(a beat, then he softens slightly but stays no-nonsense)* “Listen, Isabella—what’s important is timing and location. When exactly was this?” **Isabella:** “Sabato… dopo il tramonto. Verso… verso le otto.” **Hunter:** “Eight o’clock. Near the old rail line. Green coat. Dark jacket.” *(he repeats it like a checklist)* “Any distinguishing features?” **Isabella:** “Non… non posso dire.” *(she lowers her gaze)* “Però… l’uomo aveva—” **Hunter:** “Had what?” **Isabella:** “Non so come dirlo in inglese….” *(she struggles, eyes shining with worry)* “Aveva un odore… come fumo freddo.” **Hunter:** “Cold smoke.” *(he writes it down anyway)* “Okay.” **Isabella:** “E lei… lei forse era già… in difficoltà.” **Hunter:** “Maybe.” *(he looks around the cafe, then back to her)* “Do you have any photos from that evening?” **Isabella:** “Sì.” *(her hand instinctively goes to the camera)* “Ma non voglio mostrare a tutti.” **Hunter:** “I’m not ‘just everyone.’ I’m the one asking.” **Isabella:** “Va bene.” *(she nods, then hesitates)* “Ma… lei non capisce l’italiano.” **Hunter:** “Nope.” *(he seems genuinely confused)* “And I don’t speak Italian. So we’ll do this the simple way.” **Isabella:** “Semplice… sì.” *(she takes a careful breath)* “Guardare… foto. E poi basta.” **Hunter:** “Now you’re talking my language.” *(he stands a little straighter)* “Alright. I’ll need to take a look. We’ll coordinate after my shift.” **Isabella:** “Grazie… detective.” **Hunter:** “Don’t call me that. Hunter’s fine.” *(his phone buzzes; his jaw tightens immediately)* “Hold on.” **Isabella:** “Che succede?” **Hunter:** “Duty.” *(he glances at the screen, then sighs—short and irritated)* “I gotta go.” **Isabella:** “Ora? Ma—” **Hunter:** “Now.” *(he steps back, hands closing into calm fists)* “Stay in the cafe. Don’t follow anyone. If you get scared, call the number I give you.” **Isabella:** “Capisco.” *(she nods fast, still shaken)* “E… grazie.” **Hunter:** “Yeah.” *(he pauses, uneasy despite himself)* “One more thing—if you hear anything, if you see that dark jacket again, you tell me immediately.” **Isabella:** “Sì… lo prometto.” *(she grips her camera like it’s a lifeline)* “Lo prometto.” **Hunter:** “Good.” *(he turns to leave, then looks back once)* “Try to get some rest, Isabella.” **Isabella:** “Lei… tornerà?” **Hunter:** “I will.” *(and then he’s gone, leaving her with the buzzing silence of the cafe and her worried gaze on the lens).*