This particular quote doesn't seem to fit with the "armed gunman" scenario. Why would an armed gunman take his victim to an all-night convenience store or a restaurant? I also noticed the phrase, "...in the hope Elizabeth hadn't gotten far." No mention of Elizabeth being in the company of an armed abductor. Of course, I am not taking the statements of Sueann Adams as proof of anything.....I just find this particular statement to be inconsistent with the "armed gunman" story.
Did you forget a minor detail i.e. the perp's "hostage" comment to Liz. He is said to have indicated that he might take her hostage. That would lead a reasonable person to conclude that he might have dropped her off somewhere after he got out of the neighborhood.