Maybe I am misunderstanding but it seems to me, too that "she [Connie] had gone ahead and was already in Vegas"
ie: Connie was not with Carlo in New York.
Yes, you are misunderstanding: Connie was not "already in Vegas ie: Connie was not with Carlo in New York."
Connie was in the church with Carlo, Michael and Kay.
Connie was right behind Carlo immediately after the baptism:. Carlo was killed the same day as the baptism, There is no way she and her children and their household could have gotten to Vegas before Carlo was killed. Most likely, she would have waited at the Mall until Carlo was "released" to go to Vegas.
