You might be right but I'm having a hard time thinking that GF would communicate with FD in person given the overall situation both personally and professionally (we know she had also accused him of harrassing her about the divorce in her civil case about the loan not being repaid as scheduled).
My guess is she would communicate through atty's or via the Nanny (I'm also not convinced that Nanny would have been authorized to speak directly to FD). Maybe the communication on the missing date was done via the GAL or court supervisor? I also think about how quickly GF puts guards in place to safeguard the family as it seemed to happen the day after the missing date from what I recall.
From what everyone has contributed here that has had DV experience it seems likely that JD had some kind of emergency plan in place to safeguard the children in the event that she couldn't be reached or went missing and this involved the nanny and GF. The friends checking in on JD throughout the day no doubt were part of her usual check in strategy to keep herself safe and sane too. Thank goodness for her good friends and solid friend group!
I totally agree with an emergency plan being in place.
However, I really believe that the trip to New York was Planned for the children.
JD already in NYC for 2 doctor appointments and the children having early release at school for the holiday weekend, would be a perfect time to visit with GF.
The only person noted as being at the 69 Welles after 12 noon was the housekeeper.
No record of the Nanny or the Children after the children were dropped off by JD at school that morning.
This tells me, that the children were already on their way to NYC after the 12:30 pm pickup at school.
Yes, FD had visitation with the children the next day in Fairfield County.
However, spending the afternoon, evening, and even the overnight in NYC, it would still be possible for JD to bring the children back to NC for the required child visitation.
Just because someone is in NYC late or overnight, does not preclude them returning to NC before the visitation.
For example, FD had visitation for 7 hours on Saturdays -- maybe from 12pm - 7pm or even 10am-5pm?
I highly doubt that the visitation would have started at 6am or 7am, so the return to NC from NYC is very doable on Saturday morning.
Not an issue getting the children up and out of NYC to drive just over an hour to NC in time for the visitation.
IMO.