Run: 2026-07-01-01KWEAGWGE72GPDF0A4XZSTNAT

Melanie: "..." *(she scrolls through the photos on her camera screen, brow furrowed, thumb pausing over one image longer than the others)* Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I ask you a few questions? I understand you were out by the old orchard yesterday evening — around the time the Peterson girl went missing." Melanie: "Was? Ich... ich verstehe nicht. Können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen?" Hunter: *(pausing, tilting his head)* "...Sorry, I didn't catch any of that. You speak English at all?" Melanie: "Nein, nein English. Es tut mir leid. Ich bin aus Deutschland, ich studiere hier für ein Semester." *(she gestures helplessly between herself and the camera, clearly agitated)* Hunter: "Okay, okay. German, right. I got nothing. Uh—" *(he pulls out his phone, taps at it)* "Just— can you show me? The camera. Pictures. From last night." *(he mimes holding a camera to his eyes)* Melanie: *(nodding quickly, relief crossing her face at being understood)* "Ja, ja — Fotos. Ich zeige Ihnen die Fotos." *(she turns the camera toward him, flipping through images with trembling fingers)* "Hier — hier ist etwas Seltsames. Ich habe letzte Nacht komische Geräusche gehört, im Wald, in der Nähe der Obstplantage. Es hat mich sehr beunruhigt." Hunter: *(leaning in, studying the screen even though he can't understand her words, eyes narrowing at one particular photo — a blurred shape at the treeline)* "Whoa. Hold on. What's that? Can you— zoom in? This shape here?" Melanie: *(following his finger, nodding emphatically)* "Ja, genau das! Ich weiß nicht, was das ist. Es war dunkel, aber ich habe ein Gefühl gehabt, dass mich jemand beobachtet hat. Es war unheimlich." Hunter: "Right. I don't— I don't know what you're saying, but that face says it all. You saw something that scared you." *(he pulls out a small notepad, taps the photo)* "I need copies of these. All of them. Can I—" *(gestures at the memory card slot)* Melanie: *(hesitating, then unclipping the memory card and handing it over carefully)* "Bitte, seien Sie vorsichtig damit. Das sind wichtige Bilder." *(softer, almost to herself)* "Ich hoffe, dem Mädchen geht es gut." Hunter: "Yeah. Me too." *(his phone buzzes sharply in his pocket; he checks it, jaw tightening)* "Dispatch. Gotta go." *(he stands, pocketing the memory card)* "Thank you — uh, danke? Is that right?" Melanie: *(a small, surprised smile despite herself)* "Ja. Das war richtig." Hunter: "Good. Stay in town, alright? Don't go anywhere. I'll be back with someone who can actually talk to you." *(he's already moving, badge catching the light as he jogs toward his car)* Melanie: *(watching him go, murmuring to herself, camera clutched tightly to her chest)* "Was ist hier nur los..."