The quote I found extremely odd was the one about the TV blaring around the clock and it was “obvious no one was home.” If I knew no one was home and something so out of the ordinary happened, I do believe I would call the cops after, mmmm, maybe 24 hours?
You are right about the time from 6 to 6:40. He was fairly normal up until that point. Something happened which changed his affect. He has been described as confused and disoriented, but those that actually spoke with him said “labored, but lucid.” Regardless, the Jack Wheeler that left Happy Harry’s was not the Jack Wheeler that arrived in Wilmington. It was a physical event, not an emotional collapse.
I would entertain the thought of a stroke etc. except for the robbery of his briefcase and wallet - that changes everything in my opinion.
He was probably attacked in some manner (hit on the head), maybe even injected with something. But, as you say the man who left Happy Harry’s is not the man who showed up in the Lemours Bldg 40 min later.