I think it was "unclear" whether they had an apt. to move straight into in this case. Hence, the phone call Lori got on Friday. They were not booked into an apt. Mark knew this. He was going to wing it once they got to NC. (Tell Lori the apt. isn't ready to move into right now.) This is my take anyway.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595079881,00.html
Thomas said that she last heard from Lori the Saturday before she disappeared, when she received an e-mail with her new address in North Carolina.
"I'm still kind of numb," Thomas said. "It's starting to sink in."