he was asked when he got there THAT WEEKEND...he pauses, pretends he had to remember and then says 'sunday, it was the evening AFTER her birthday party. what time: 8-8:30ish, just in time to make sure she did all her night time routines....waited for her mom to come home'. and thats when he is asked about whether they went anywhere last nite. he cant remember.

that question was interesting to me.
seems like he was lying about when he got there that weekend.......the pause...... why would he have to think about what day he got there?
you are correct, we have no idea if his timeline arrival is true, whether he showed up or didnt at the party, how Madeline got home, no idea.