Run: 2026-04-24-01KQ030XHK82DYSX1BE8RKNR9A

# The Cafe on Main Street The bell above the door of **Brewed Awakening** jingled softly as Hunter stepped inside. The small cafe smelled of cinnamon and fresh pastries — apple turnovers, no doubt, given the season. His eyes scanned the room and landed on a young woman sitting alone near the window, hunched over a camera, her brow furrowed. **Hunter:** "Excuse me, ma'am? I'm Detective Hunter. Mind if I sit for a moment?" **Isabella:** *(looks up, startled)* "Mi scusi?" **Hunter:** *(sits down anyway, pulling out a small notepad)* "I'm investigating the disappearance of Tom Whitfield — the owner of the hardware store on Elm. Folks say you were near the river yesterday afternoon. Take any photos around that time?" **Isabella:** *(clutching her camera, visibly shaken)* "Il fiume... sì, ero lì. C'era... c'era qualcosa di strano. Una figura... nell'albero. Mi ha spaventata tantissimo. Non so cosa fosse." **Hunter:** *(blinks, tilts his head)* "...Right. Okay. You're not from around here, are you?" **Isabella:** *(shaking her head, speaking rapidly)* "Non capisco. Parla più lentamente, per favore. Io... non parlo inglese. Sono qui per studiare. Ma quello che ho visto... non era normale. C'era un uomo, credo. Si muoveva in modo... non so... sbagliato." **Hunter:** *(leaning back, rubbing his jaw)* "Ma'am, I don't... I don't speak Italian. Or... whatever that was. French?" **Isabella:** *(frustrated, gestures wildly at her camera)* "Foto! Io — foto!" *(opens her camera's display and scrolls to a grainy image of a dark figure half-hidden among the trees near the riverbank. She points at it emphatically.)* "Guardi! Guardi questa foto!" **Hunter:** *(leans forward, squinting at the screen)* "Well, I'll be... Is that near the old Miller bridge?" **Isabella:** *(points again, nodding vigorously)* "Sì! Lì! Il ponte!" *(she mimics a bridge shape with her hands)* **Hunter:** *(takes the camera gently, studying the image)* "This could be something. I can't make out much, but that shape there — that's a person, alright." *(looks at her)* "You said something about... 'strano'?" **Isabella:** *(nods, wrapping her arms around herself)* "Strano. Sì. Molto strano. Ieri, ho sentito... un rumore. Come un grido. Ma non era un animale. Era... umano." **Hunter:** *(pauses, his expression darkening)* "A cry. Near the river. In the afternoon." *(scribbles in his notepad)* "And you saw this figure — right here, in the trees." *(taps the screen)* **Isabella:** *(quieter now, her eyes glassy)* "Avevo paura. Molta paura. Sono corsa via. Forse... forse avrei dovuto fare qualcosa." **Hunter:** *(notices her distress, softens slightly)* "Hey. You did the right thing. You got out of there." *(beat)* "I just wish I could understand you better." **Isabella:** *(offers a small, sad smile)* "Anch'io." **Hunter:** *(stands, hands her back the camera)* "I'm going to keep this photo, if you don't mind. Well — I'll need a copy. Can you...?" *(mimes writing something)* "Do you have a number? An address? Where you're staying?" **Isabella:** *(nods, pulls out a crumpled piece of paper from her bag and writes down an address, sliding it across the table)* "Residenza studentesca. Al campus." **Hunter:** *(takes it, tucks it into his notepad)* "Good. I may need to follow up." *(pauses, then awkwardly pats the table)* "Stay away from the river for now." **Isabella:** *(frowns, not understanding)* "Cosa?" **Hunter:** *(points at her, then mimes a stern "no" gesture, then points toward the window in the general direction of the river)* "No. River. Stay. Away." **Isabella:** *(understanding the gesture, nods)* "Capito. Non ci torno." **Hunter:** *(his phone buzzes loudly. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his expression tightens)* "I have to take this." *(holds up a finger to Isabella and steps away, answering)* "Hunter here." *(pause)* "When?" *(longer pause)* "I'm on my way." **Hunter:** *(turns back to Isabella, grabbing his jacket)* "I have to go. Something's come up. You—" *(points at her, then at the address on the paper)* "Stay put. I'll find you." **Isabella:** *(stands, worried)* "Cosa succede? È successo qualcos'altro?" **Hunter:** *(already halfway to the door, mutters under his breath)* "Another one." The bell jingles behind him as he pushes through the door, leaving Isabella standing alone at the table, her camera clutched to her chest, staring after him with wide, frightened eyes.