INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY

A mid-morning bustle. The coffee shop buzzes with the warm chatter of patrons. Baristas call out orders. ROBIN sits at a small table with a single coffee gone cold. He scans the door.

SARAH, enters with HARDY, casual, friendly. They spot Robin. Sarah gives him a quick smile as they approach Robin.

ROBIN

(standing, offering his hand)

Sarah. Good to see you.

SARAH

(She hugs him briefly)

Robin. It's been a while.

ROBIN

(gestures to Hardy)

And you must be Hardy.

HARDY

(shakes Robin’s hand)

Nice to finally meet you. Sarah told me a bit. Sorry for your loss.

ROBIN

Thank you.

They sit. Robin settles, eyes flicking between them, measuring. He slides his phone across the table—face up, photo visible: STEVE, mid-40s, guarded expression.

ROBIN

Do either of you recognise him?

Sarah leans in, studies the photo. Her face is blank.

SARAH

No. Never seen him.

Steve squints at the screen, something off in his posture—curiosity mixing with distant recognition.

STEVE

(soft)

Huh. He looks... familiar. I can't place it.

ROBIN

Steve. Co-owned a property with… Simi.

A pregnant pause follows, as Sarah and Steve exchange a quick, almost imperceptible glance.

SARAH

(getting up)

Excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom.

Sarah walks away.

STEVE

If you don’t mind me asking, what are you looking for? With Steve?

ROBIN

Answers. Connections. Anything that explains the shared property.

CUT TO:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Sarah walks down the narrow hallway. As she turns a corner, she collides with a SCRUFFY-LOOKING MAN.

SCRUFFY MAN

(whispering, pointing to Robin)

Stay away from that man. He’s a homewrecker.

Startled, Sarah steps back.

SARAH

What? Who are you?

The man hastily walks away, disappearing around another corner. Confused and slightly shaken, Sarah gathers herself and heads back to the coffee shop.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - TABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Sarah returns to the table, where Robin and Hardy are deep in conversation.

ROBIN

(nodding)

No, she doesn’t have any cousins or any other family members. Trust me. I’ve checked.

The chair screeches as Sarah returns, smoothing her hair, forcing a smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

SARAH

(smoothly)

Sorry for the wait. Did I miss anything?

ROBIN

(shaking his head)

Not much. Just piecing together what we know.

In the background, A MYSTERIOUS MAN sits at another table, inconspicuously watching them over the rim of his coffee cup.

FADE OUT.