I'm not dismissing the possibility that she may have went with them for drugs as mentioned by someone earlier. I think that might have been a reason to travel to MS, however, they are so common place in the quarter that any local could get their hands on just about anything they wanted pretty easily, why take an hour long ride.
I'm still thinking JL thought she was going to a private party. Yet, either way, I probably would have called home if someone was expecting me. I figure the shift ends at 3ish unless the club was busy, they might stay open. So if they left at 2, it's an hour to MS, hour back. Yet, it's not uncommon for employees to leave work, go to a local bar for food drinks and to complain. "make it locally, spend it locally!" lol yet a private party would probably take an hour to hang out, dance, do whatever, than get back, she wouldn't have been home till 6 or 7. Weird to make that trip without calling. Part of the reason I'm confused. If she was just running out to pick up a package, she would have been home on time, but why when everything is so convenient on bourbon. I'm not saying JL was deep into the scene, but you'd be hard pressed to find a local that doesn't party from time to time.