When Jana entered Kesl’s luxury suite, he stopped pacing.
Chris jumped to his feet out of the leather recliner. He glanced at Kesl. “Who’s this?”
Kesl said with a wry smile, “A transformation, almost as magnificent as the one swirling around in my brain right now.”
Chris looked at him blankly.
“You don’t recognize her?”
“Of course not. Why should I?”
“Show him,” Kesl said, pointing at the bag.
Jana pulled her rumpled and dirty ranger fatigues from the bag she carried.
Chris’s forehead furrowed and he snapped his fingers. “You’re the woman who was at the Bigfoot killing last night.” He looked her up and down. “You clean up nice.”
Jana frowned. She’d had to put army buddies hitting on her in their place and this was no different. “What do you look like when you clean up?”
“Ouch,” Chris said amiably. “I deserved that.” He stuck out his hand. “Name’s Chris Marlowe.”
She shook it. “Jana Erickson.”
Kesl slapped his hands together impatiently. “So we’re all acquainted and now it’s time for her and me to meet a Bigfoot in person? I think we’ve earned the right.” Before Chris could say anything, Kesl added, “I’m going to need help getting through the casino.”
Jana’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean we’re going to see a Bigfoot?”
“Chris met one in the casino and I need to get going right away before the anxiety gets too great.”
Jana’s eyes widened at the news. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Chris just filled me in on what he discovered here at the casino.”
“A Bigfoot?”
Kesl nodded happily. “And I have to see it. Only there’s a big problem with that.”
“Another dissociative fugue,” she said.
Chris looked from Jana to Kesl, bewilderment filling his face this time. “I don’t understand, Stephen. What’s wrong?”
Kesl giggled but managed to bring himself under control. “I suffer from autism spectrum disorder. When a situation becomes too confusing, like on the casino floor with all the people talking and moving about, I get overwhelmed to the point I want to scream and tell them all to sit still and shut up. Of course, I can’t do that since it isn’t socially acceptable, so I kinda … pass out.”
Chris pursed his lips. “What do you mean ‘pass out’?”
Jana said, “He suffers a temporary loss of awareness of his identity and the only way he can escape the confusing environment is to go into a state of catatonia.”
“For real?”
“Couldn’t have explained it better myself. You may have to drag me to that secret door you mentioned, but I’m sure you can do it, so let’s do it now. This undoubtedly is the most important event in my life and I don’t want to miss it.”
Chris grinned. “You’re the man the Bigfoot wants to see. And I know just the route to get you there.”