answer: Rita tells Tom she's late because she's lost her handbag and her efforts on searching for the handbag. Tom suggests Rita go to the restaurant where she had lunch and look for it.
documents: #Person1#: Sorry, I'm late, Tom.
  #Person2#: It's all right, Rita. Where have you been?
  #Person1#: At the police station. I've lost my handbag. Or perhaps someone's taken it. I don't know.
  #Person2#: Oh, no. What happened? Sit down. Was there anything important in it?
  #Person1#: Important! My checkbook, all the papers I need for work.
  #Person2#: Oh, that's terrible. But how did you lose it?
  #Person1#: Well, as you know, I was with a friend all morning and we had lunch together. After I had lunch, I went shopping. And when I wanted to buy something, I couldn't find my checkbook. Then I remembered that it was in my handbag. And my handbag was in my car.
  #Person2#: So you went back to your car.
  #Person1#: But I didn't find it there.
  #Person2#: And you went to the police station?
  #Person1#: Not immediately. Before I went to the police station I called my friend's office. No luck.
  #Person2#: You should go to the restaurant where you had lunch and look for it.
  #Person1#: Oh, I should have done that.
  #Person2#: Now you'd better telephone the manager right away.