The shadow of a sleek helicopter crossed over Chris as he stepped out of his truck in the casino parking lot. He watched it land on the heliport, an elevated mound west of the giant sign promoting the loosest slots in the country. The drive from the forest had given him time to reflect on what had just happened. In less than 24 hours he had spoken with not one but two Bigfoot. All these years of wondering and searching for these elusive creatures suddenly came to an end in a way that shook him intellectually to the bone. He wondered what his ex-wife would say? He snorted. What will all the Bigfoot deniers say when they learn the truth.
He sighed and leaned against the fender, looking into the afternoon sky, assessing everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Chief was out there somewhere with another Bigfoot. Is he still alive? What are you going to do when you see him again? He patted the Glock 19 stuck in the waistband of his blue jeans. No sense trying to answer that question until the time comes. He scrubbed his face with both hands. The two-day growth of beard felt unnatural to him. He still had some time before Kesl arrived. He might as well shower and shave. Then he could figure out what to do next. All he knew for certain was he was on some sort of mission to help the Bigfoot, to help them accomplish something he couldn’t even imagine. Most of all he was eager to tell Kesl what happened, as if that would bring clarity to his part in what was happening.
Like all Bigfoot researchers Chris’s truck was well supplied with backup field equipment and at the moment, most importantly, a well needed change of clothes that he stuffed into his backpack. He then checked his tool compartment and opened the secret recess for his pistol. It gave him some comfort with the Bigfoot killers out there to know that he had a weapon to defend himself. Still, he knew he couldn’t bring it into the casino, so he stashed it there until he’d need it.
If his mind was filled with unanswered questions, his senses were at a heightened level. He was able to telescope in on the helicopter wheels touching down on the heliport landing platform. Physically he felt better than any time in recent memory.
He shouldered his pack and was headed for the doors to the hotel check in when he felt the strange sense of being watched that he first experienced the night before at the quarry. It had remained with him ever since the Bigfoot encounter, but at such a low level at times he questioned if it was really there. He stared into the surrounding forest as he continued walking toward the casino entrance. It was definitely getting stronger and as soon as he crossed the threshold, he felt it as strongly as he had in the forest.
What’s going on in here?