Run: 2026-10-13-01M4TAN2BF57WK76G6VQXJ7KP8

Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. Detective Hunter, Alborn Police. I'd like to ask you a few questions about what happened out at the Erickson orchard two nights ago." Melanie (troubled): "Oh... es tut mir leid, ich verstehe kein Englisch. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" Hunter (confused): "I'm sorry, I... don't speak German. Do you speak any English? Eng-lish?" Melanie: "Nein, nein... nur Deutsch. Bitte, ich—" Hunter: "Okay. Okay, slow down. Let's try this another way. This man — Dale Erickson. Have you seen him?" Melanie (shaken): "Oh Gott... ja! Ja, diesen Mann habe ich gesehen! Beim Obstgarten, am Abend. Ich habe Fotos gemacht — für mein Studium — und er war dort..." Hunter: "You've seen him? Ma'am, I can't understand a word you're saying, but I think you just told me yes. Where? Where did you see him?" Melanie: "Hier — meine Kamera. Sehen Sie. Dieses Foto. Das ist er, nicht wahr?" Hunter: "Your camera... you photographed him? May I? ... Timestamp says Thursday, 7:42 p.m. That's Dale, all right. Wait — who's that? There, in the shadow by the truck." Melanie (voice trembling): "Ich weiß es nicht. Ein Fremder. Er hat den Mann in den Wagen gezogen, und dann... dann hat er mich gesehen. Er hat direkt in mein Objektiv geschaut. Ich hatte solche Angst. Ich bin weggelaufen." Hunter: "Ma'am, you're shaking. Hey — it's all right. You're safe. I don't know what you're telling me, but I can see plain as day it scared you half to death." Melanie: "Hilfe... bitte. Hilfe. Ich fühle mich hier nicht sicher. Vielleicht sucht er jetzt nach mir." Hunter: "'Hilfe.' Help. You need help — that much I understand. Listen to me: nobody is going to hurt you. Not on my watch." Melanie: "Ich wünschte, Sie könnten mich verstehen. Auf diesem Foto ist alles. Alles, was ich gesehen habe." Hunter: "I wish I could understand you too, ma'am. But this picture says plenty. This is the first real lead I've had in three weeks, and—" (phone rings) "Detective Hunter... Where? ... The festival grounds? Don't touch anything. I'm on my way." Hunter: "I have to go. Another one's gone missing. Ma'am — Melanie, is it, from your student ID? — I need this photo. I'm going to take a picture of your screen, and then I need you to stay in town. Do you understand? Stay. In. Town." Melanie (frightened): "Ja... ja, ich bleibe. Aber bitte — kommen Sie zurück. Bitte." Hunter: "I'll be back. I promise. And ma'am? Lock your door tonight." Melanie (whispering, alone): "Bitte finden Sie ihn... bevor er mich findet." --- *Note: Melanie's lines are in German throughout, as she speaks no English — let me know if you'd like an English translation of her dialogue for reference.*