AstroKitty - The quoting thing went wonky, so I just bolded some of your questions.
Why didn't she just go work a day shift or whatever? I'm sure there's a real reason but it's the first that came to mind.
I'm not sure there will be a real reason.
How was he going to spend the gift card on her at dollar general anyway? Because that's how this story is told and starts out:
Why didn't he just buy the outfit at DG when he offered? how did the conversation about about another store even come into play?
He never offered to buy her anything at DG, that has been disclosed. His story was that he had a giftcard at Walmart, and that is how he could buy her the dress. (Like, he didn't have the cash to do it at DG, but he has the giftcard, so they have to go there if she wants the dress.) He was not goingto spend the giftcard at DG, only at Walmart. That's why they headed there.
How was he in contact with his "wife"? There has to have been a cell phone although Walmart does have payphones (I called and checked lol -they are in the front of the store where you walk in). Also DG has them outside the store.
None of that has been disclosed. I'm guessing the DG surveillance and employees will explain that. DG came out today and said they are fully cooperating with authorities.
The lack of communication is where I'm "stuck", then comes the trust of a stranger, not calling 911 TILL THE STORE CLOSED etc.
I have seriously thought that maybe she didn't notice her gone, until they started making the closing announcements for the store. She needed him to get the items and she had to find him. I wonder if she was looking for HIM at first (to pay, once she heard the store was closing) and realized they weren't there. And THEN worried about her daughter. Those are just all my personal thoughts. I just find the fact that she noticed her gone when the store was closing...curious.