At some point between Sonny leaving the DiMera mansion, and Abi showing up, Kristen pays another visit, riding on coke and the way she was insulted. If the pathetic bastard couldn't even spare the chump change for the stepmother of the man he's fucking, she's just gonna take it for herself.
She'd canvassed the first floor when he'd directed her back to the kitchen, and going in through the back, she goes straight to the library, and the big fancy desk she'd spotted.
People rolling in dough always have a stash hidden somewhere, in her experience. Quickly, she forces open the drawers, rifling through, then shouts in delight when she spots a generous pile of fifties. Those go straight into her pocket.
She figures the books he'd put on the shelves and the ones still boxed had to be worth something. But they're heavy, and therefore hard to sell. Most likely he has more cash lying around, along with some jewelry hidden in his bedroom.
She darts up the stairs. Knowing Sonny might barge in on her at any moment only makes the stealing that more exciting.
A door slams, forcing her to fall on her knees. It's a draft, she tells herself as she catches her breath, as her pulse starts to pop. Big, drafty old mansion. In fact, she still feels the cold air hit her like a blast as she gets back on her feet.
She touches a doorknob, yanking her hand away instantly. The knob's literally so cold, it hurts.
Doesn't matter. What the fuck? His room is down the hall anyway. She's not as stupid as everyone thinks. Had she not been watching the house for the past few days? Had she not seen him come out onto the veranda from the room right on the corner?
Laughing out loud, the sound echoing back at her, she dashes down the hall, streaks right through the open door. She forces open the top drawer of the dresser and hits the jackpot with the old antique box inside.
Real gold cufflinks--she has to assume they're real gold. Silver too, with a fancy stone right in the middle. Diamond earrings, a gold watch. And in another box inside this one, a guy's ring of...platinum, maybe, fashioned with two engraved scrolls.
She sets the box on the dresser, hunting through a couple more drawers until she finds another wad of cash.
It pays, doesn't it, you son of a bitch. Pays just fine.
She tosses the bills into the jewelry box, tucking it under her arm.
Standing there, breath whistling in excitement, cocaine pumping through her veins, she considers the thrill of trashing the place. It would be so satisfying--more payback. But it's not smart. And she's smarter than that.
She'll need time to pawn the jewelry, then turn the cash into more drugs. Time to get the hell out of here. Let sleeping dogs lie.
She'll go out the other side, in case Marlena has her eyes on the place.
But when she steps back into the hallway, she finds herself staring at the door from earlier.
What's in there anyway? She wonders. Could be something good. Maybe something she'll come back for later. Something that'll have her rolling in money.
Her breath isn't whistling anymore, now it's wheezing. Her skin is freezing, but she can't resist the urge to go in that room. She's by herself in this big place, isn't she? By herself, that means the place is rightfully hers.
It's her mansion.
Swallowing to clear her throat, she starts moving, shivering.
Are those voices? How could there possibly be voices when nobody's here but her? But they try to stop her, tell her to turn back. Something wrong, something bad. Time to leave.
But it's like hands are pushing her forward, until, with trembling hands, she reaches for the door.
She only meant to open it slowly--just to peek inside. But the second she touches it, it swings open violently.
She sees the man and the woman on the floor, a baby screaming. Sees the woman's eyes--staring at nothing, the light already left them. Dead.
And the man, his dark hair shining in the dim light, turns to look at her.
Kristen tries to scream, but can't catch the air. As she opens her mouth, something jumps inside her. For one horrifying moment it is her. Then it goes right through her. Cold, violent, angry.
Another figure materializes in the room. Female, prim, in her dressing gown.
Santo.
And in speechless terror, Kristen turns tail and runs.
