What happened in the kitchen that scared all the heirs?

The heat from the stove in the kitchen cause the cans of tomato sauce to explode. The heirs initially believed the tomato sauce was blood, the sight of Mrs. Theodorakis frightened them all.

Theo and Doug ran into the kitchen; Mrs. Theodorakis ran out. Her hair, her face, her apron were splattered with dark dripping red. “Blood,” Sydelle Pulaski cried, clutching her heart.

“Don’t just sit there,” Catherine Theodorakis shouted, “somebody call the fire department.”

Angela hurried to the pay phone on the wall and stood there trembling, not knowing whether to call or not. They were snowbound, the fire engines could not reach Sunset Towers. Theo leaned through the kitchen doorway. “Everything’s okay. There’s no fire.” “C

hris, honey, it’s all right,” Mrs. Theodorakis said, kneeling before the wheelchair. “It’s all right, Chris, look! It’s just tomato sauce.” Tomato sauce! Mrs. Theodorakis was covered with tomato sauce, not blood.