I've never believed Chance intentionally dissappeared either. But the debate in my mind is whether "someone", as you said, caused him to disappear. or if it was an accident. I would lean towards a natural accident, or a harm during a completely unplanned encounter at the last minute with a person. It simply couldn't have been something planned ahead because no one, including Chance, knew ahead of time where he was going to be. Chance's decision to spend the weekend in Gering was a last minute change of plans (he got into an argument with his own family). His decision to have Bailey come get him early before the game was over at the Bayard Golf Course was unplanned (he got into an argument with Baily's family). And his final decision to walk through Gering and Terrytown was completely unplanned (he got into an argument with Bailey.)