Just when we thought we had a handle on the DiMeras, Days of Our Lives threw everything into chaos. To paraphrase Charles Dickens, Stefan was dead to begin with. At least, that’s what Peter told us kicked in the crypt. And it’s what supposedly kicked off his attempt to wipe out his adopted family. Vivian confirmed it, and even gave Rafe a plausible explanation (Jake’s heart transplant failed) and a gravestone.

And then… Well, on the Wednesday, January 7th episode, Rafe told Jada what the FBI found when digging into the cameras in the DiMera crypt. Peter wasn’t watching his captives. Someone in Alamainia was.

Was Vivian Working With Peter?

And that brings us full circle, right back to the Queen of Living Burials herself: Vivian Alamain! Jada and Rafe both think it’s highly likely she’s been in cahoots with Peter. Maybe her past didn’t just inspire him — maybe Vivian helped him plan it all out!

But the only way wiping out Stefano’s heirs would make sense (other than Vivian suddenly going very bloodthirsty), would be if she could benefit from it somehow. And she could, if Stefan was the last DiMera heir standing and ended up with everything. Provided Peter didn’t want it, that is.

That’s when Jada mentioned that while Stefan’s death was filed, it wasn’t until fairly recently, and he supposedly passed away back in the fall. If that’s not suspicious, we don’t know what is.

It did seem odd to kill off Stefan offscreen, but it was plausible, since his kidnapping had to be dealt with someway. You can’t keep someone captive their whole life on a soap. (Right, Lucas?)

But to reap the benefits of the inheritance, Vivian would need Stefan alive, so faking his death seems… odd. Unless she was just trying to keep folks from digging around and remove suspicion that she was involved with Peter’s scheme. Then she could trot out Stefan, back from the dead once more and rake in the profits.

Is Stefan Coming Back?

Still, it feels like we’re missing a part of this hypothetical plan. How would she reveal he was alive, but keep him under lock and key and take control of his inheritance? If she didn’t do that, it seems doubtful Stefan would go along with a scheme like this.

He’s fought plenty with his siblings, but murdering them all — including the decent ones — seems a step or five too far for him. And to work with his mom after she kidnapped him and ripped him away from Gabi? Why would he do that?

Maybe this is all just a red herring. After all, until recently, Dimitri was supposedly in Alamainia, too. But it now seems that rumors of Stefan’s death may have been greatly exaggerated. And when this is all over, he could be coming back to Salem with a score to settle. Right now, Peter may be the only one in town who can reveal the truth. If he survives, of course.