Run: 2026-10-07-01M4ATB3NGA79J082AYK7ENCSC

**Scene: The Copper Kettle Café, Alborn, MN. Morning light streams through windows decorated with apple festival banners.** Hunter: "Excuse me. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I sit?" Maria: "¿Perdón? ¿Quién es usted?" *(Sorry? Who are you?)* Hunter: "I'm investigating the disappearances. Sarah Chen two weeks ago, and now the festival coordinator. Were you at the old Miller orchard last night? Taking pictures?" Maria: *(Her face goes pale. She clutches her camera to her chest.)* "¡El huerto Miller! ¡Sí! Estaba allí tomando fotos del atardecer. Y entonces... entonces la vi. Estaba temblando. Tenía tanto miedo." *(The Miller orchard! Yes! I was there taking sunset photos. And then... then I saw her. She was shaking. She was so scared.)* Hunter: "Saw who? Hey, slow down. I don't speak Spanish." Maria: "¡Una chica! ¡Corriendo entre los manzanos! Y detrás de ella... un hombre. Muy alto. Abrigo rojo sangre. ¡Se parecía a un monstruo en la oscuridad!" *(A girl! Running between the apple trees! And behind her... a man. Very tall. Blood-red coat. He looked like a monster in the dark!)* Hunter: *(Frowning, pulling out his notebook)* "Red coat. Orchard. Last night. That's specific. Can you show me? On your camera?" Maria: *(She turns the LCD screen toward him, revealing a blurry but distinct image: a crimson figure looming behind a fleeing girl in the twilight.)* "Mire. Aquí. Por favor... mire bien." *(Look. Here. Please... look carefully.)* Hunter: *(Leaning in close, squinting)* "This is... this could be evidence. Do you have more? Did you see his face?" Maria: "No veía su cara. Estaba muy lejos. Pero tengo más fotos. Fotos de antes... cuando él todavía no la perseguía." *(I couldn't see his face. It was very far. But I have more photos. Photos from before... when he wasn't chasing her yet.)* Hunter: "You need to come with me. Or wait—do you have anyone here? A roommate? A professor who speaks English?" Maria: *(Shaking her head, tears in her eyes)* "Nadie. Soy estudiante de intercambio. De Madrid. Mi inglés es... muy malo. Solo tengo mi cámara." *(No one. I'm an exchange student. From Madrid. My English is... very bad. I only have my camera.)* Hunter: *(His phone buzzes insistently. He glances at the screen.)* "I have to go. Now. But I'm sending an interpreter. A Spanish speaker from the university. You stay right here. Don't talk to anyone else about this. Don't leave." Maria: *(Voice trembling)* "¿Me cree? ¿De verdad... me cree?" *(You believe me? You really... believe me?)* Hunter: *(Already standing, placing a firm hand on her shoulder)* "I believe you saw something that scared you. That's enough to start. I'll be back within the hour. Detective Hunter doesn't leave witnesses alone." Maria: "¡Por favor! ¡Vuelva pronto! ¡Tengo mucho miedo! ¡No quiero estar sola!" *(Please! Come back soon! I'm very scared! I don't want to be alone!)* Hunter: "I know. That's exactly why we're going to find who did this. Stay put." **[Hunter exits the café, phone pressed to his ear.]**