When Days wants to escalate the tension, they always introduce a “dirty informant” type character. And this time it’s Rita.

Rita appears at DiMera Mansion like a needle: small but incredibly painful. What’s noteworthy is that Rita returns while EJ is missing, yet acts as if she’s still taking orders from EJ.

This sounds wrong. In Salem, when “orders” are still running while the “order-giver” is absent, it’s usually a sign of a pre-planned scheme, or someone using EJ’s name to manipulate the situation.

Gwen is dragged into the eye of the storm. She’s used to hiding, being evasive, and “changing the subject” to get out of trouble.

But this time it’s harder, because Rita’s appearance casts doubt on every story Gwen tells. Gwen is tense, and the more tense she gets, the more obvious her true intentions become. And when Gwen’s identity is revealed, people start digging deeper: what does she know about the disappearance? Whose side is she on? Or is she just a pawn being used?

Meanwhile, Leo continues his “mouth faster than brain” persona: intimidated by Gwen, but the more intimidated he is, the more he enjoys it. Leo isn’t a hero, but he’s the kind of person who can’t let secrets rest. And sometimes, just one sentence Leo says in front of the wrong person can turn the whole case upside down. Gwen tries to cover it up, Leo tries to uncover the truth, and Rita acts as both a messenger and a puppet master. The three of them together in one scene is enough to stir up trouble.