The Young and the Restless Mystery: What is Matt's grand plan?

Now that The Young and the Restless' Matt is on the loose again, we can't help wondering what his next move will be. He's out for revenge against the Newmans, but where is he hiding? Is he orchestrating some grand plan, and how does he intend to carry it out?

Matt's sinister messages on The Young and the Restless

Nick, Sharon, Sienna, and Noah discuss Matt on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

The Young and the Restless writers have given us a mystery to solve. Where is Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) now that he's been released from police custody? Just think, all that time that Sharon (Sharon Case), Nick (Joshua Morrow), Noah (Lucas Adams), and Sienna (Tamara Braun) were at Crimson Lights, talking about Matt's creepy text messages, he could have been somewhere on the premises.

Remember the little apartment above Crimson Lights that Sharon used to rent out to Rey (Jordi Vilasuso) when he was married to Mia (Noemi Gonzalez)? What if Matt knows about that place and is up there, hiding out as he concocts an elaborate revenge plan against the Newmans? Maybe he picked the lock to the front door, or maybe the door was unlocked.

It isn't a high-end apartment, so we can definitely picture Matt (who was financially ruined by Victor) holing himself up in there. It's a place for him to sleep until he figures out his next move. Since Sharon runs Crimson Lights, that apartment seems like the ideal hide-out for Matt, since his story began over twenty-five years ago with his connection to Sharon during their high school years together.

Or is Matt hiding out somewhere on the Newman ranch?

Eric Braeden, Melody Thomas Scott, and Amelia Heinle on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Since the Newman ranch is so large, perhaps Matt is lying in wait there. He could be hiding in the attic, in the basement, or he could even be in the stables with the horses.

While Victor (Eric Braeden), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) strategize how they can reclaim Newman Enterprises from Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), Matt may very well be tucked away somewhere on the Newman property. And he's probably snickering at them behind their backs, because he's going to pounce on them when they least expect it.

Victor is in a vulnerable position right now. He lost his company, so he is distracted with worry over how he can get it back. Now is the perfect time for Matt to strike. But who will be his next victim? Which Newman will he target next?

Will Matt target Claire?

Hayley Erin on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Claire would be an unexpected target, since she's not Nick and Sharon's daughter. She's Victoria's. But that would be an interesting turn of events, because it would shift Victoria's focus from saving NE to saving Claire's life. We know how much Victoria loves Claire. They have a strong mother/daughter bond.

Claire doesn't have much of a storyline right now on Y&R. She needs something to do, besides chat with Kyle (Michael Mealor) at Society. She can't go to work at the moment, since Phyllis stole NE. She hit a dead end in her search to uncover Audra (Zuleyka Silver) and Holden's L.A. secret.

So, it would make sense if The Young and the Restless writers decide to make Claire Matt's next victim. It would put her in the middle of all the drama that has always revolved around Matt, Nick, and Sharon. Maybe Kyle would even get involved and help Victoria save Claire from Matt.

Or maybe Claire wouldn't even need to be saved. She could probably find a way to save herself. Considering that she was raised by her psychopath Aunt Jordan (Colleen Zenk), Claire might be savvy enough to handle a guy like Matt. After all, she helped Jordan poison the Newmans a few years ago. She probably wouldn't even be afraid of Matt. Matt might be afraid of her!