You may see it that way. I don't. Did Kate "jog" to the apartment, we don't know but she could have walked. She would then have to stop and open the bottom gate then the top gate. Then stop and open the sliding doors and close them. Then wait at the door of the bedroom till she saw the curtains whoosh. Quick run around the apartment to search then back to the tapas. How many minutes are you allowing for all that to happen Sadie?
Then the tapas diners were made aware of Madeleine's disappearance they all rushed back to the apartment, searched again then started looking and presumably shouting "Maddie". The mother from the creche heard the shouting as she walked to the creche - how long did that take? She then told Charlotte etc what she had heard. Did Charlotte run straight to the apartment or discuss it first? We don't know and therefore your timeline can not be clarified IMO.
Sunny, you have a point but I have taken the likely shortest period. If she was enjoying the company and wanted to get back quickly, she would have fast jogged. No problem for someone as fit as Kate. I personally think that the period I specified is ample for all including the little extras you have mentioned. Kate was a busy working mother would have learned to be very quick in everything she did, imo
I have also made a point of surmising that few people actually clock watch when on holiday and some peoples watches are not accurately set. Is Luz on the same band as British Grenwich Mean Time in early May?
I haven't checked the answer to that, but if they had all changed their watches to Portuguese time? Would they bother to even 3-4 minutes accuracy, when on that type of holiday? Personally I am very laid back about times on holiday: So long as I have an indication of the time when needed, I am happy. Hubby, however, is precise when he resets his watch
And, I just think this precise 5 minute thingy is unrealistic TBH with everyones recollections being different and variations probably in the times on the watches, I think the 5 minutes could vanish to zero minutes or stretch to 10 minutes