Run: 2026-05-22-01KS86BNH195J0F01SF369KX3Y

Melanie: "(Looking up from the digital display of her camera, her hands trembling slightly) Entschuldigung? Ich verstehe nicht. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Ich... ich brauche Hilfe." Hunter: "(Pulling out the chair opposite her and sitting down with a heavy, no-nonsense sigh) Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. I'm looking into the recent disappearances. Someone said you were out by the old apple orchards last night during the festival. You speak English?" Melanie: "(Shaking her head, her eyes wide and fearful as she clutches her camera) Nein, kein Englisch. Tut mir leid. Ich bin nur hier für mein Auslandssemester. Ich habe nur Landschaftsfotografie gemacht, aber... ich habe etwas Schreckliches gesehen. Bitte, verstehen Sie mich?" Hunter: "(Frowning, leaning in and looking thoroughly confused) Look, miss, I don't know a single word of German. Do you have a translation app on that phone of yours? Or... wait, are you trying to tell me something about the camera? Did you take a picture of something?" Melanie: "(Nodding frantically, turning the camera screen toward him and pointing at a dark, blurry shape in the background of a landscape shot) Ja! Hier! Sehen Sie das? Zwischen den Apfelbäumen! Da war ein Mann. Er hat etwas in den Fluss geworfen. Eine große, schwarze Tasche!" Hunter: "(Squinting at the small screen, his demeanor shifting to intense focus) That's just a shadow... wait. No, that's a figure. A guy in a heavy coat. And he's standing by the riverbank. Is this what you saw? The river?" Melanie: "(Letting out a shaky breath, nodding vigorously) Ja, der Fluss! Genau! Er hat die Tasche ins Wasser geworfen. Und dann... dann hat er sich umgedreht und mich angesehen. Ich bin weggelaufen. Ich habe solche Angst, dass er mich gefunden hat." Hunter: "(Making a throwing motion, then pointing to his own eyes, and finally pointing to her) Okay. He threw the bag. Then he looked at you. Did you see his face? Can you identify him?" Melanie: "(Tapping her own face, then shaking her head) Sein Gesicht? Nein, er hatte eine Kapuze auf. Aber... warten Sie. Ich habe noch ein Foto gemacht, als ich weggelaufen bin. (She swipes to the next image, zooming in on a hand gripping a tree branch). Sehen Sie seine Hand? Er hat eine Narbe. Eine lange, rote Narbe über dem Handrücken." Hunter: "(Leaning closer, his eyes narrowing at the zoomed-in image) A scar. Long scar across the back of the right hand. Well, I'll be damned. Good eye. That's a solid detail. I can work with that." Melanie: "(Lowering the camera, looking at him with desperate, pleading eyes) Bitte, Sie müssen mir glauben. Ich weiß nicht, was in der Tasche war, aber es war schwer. Was ist hier in Alborn los? Warum verschwinden Leute?" Hunter: "(His phone suddenly buzzes loudly on the table. He glances at the caller ID and his expression hardens) Damn it. Look, I have to take this. Stay right here. Don't move." Melanie: "(Reaching out slightly, her voice cracking with panic) Warten Sie! Bitte, lassen Sie mich nicht allein! Was ist, wenn er zurückkommt? Ich verstehe hier niemanden!" Hunter: "(Answering the phone, holding up a firm finger to silence her) Hunter here... What? You found another one near the cider press? Secure the perimeter, I'm five minutes out. (He hangs up and stands up quickly, tossing a business card on the table) I gotta go. Stay in the cafe. Lock the door if you have to. I'm sending a translator over to get your full statement. Stay put." Melanie: "(Watching him rush away, clutching her camera tightly to her chest) Bitte... passen Sie auf sich auf."