Personally, I think Nicole is Nicole. But with a change of some kind. Brainwashed, hypnotized, drugged, brainchip, something. And I feel this way because I think Nicole would have wanted to see her daughter immediately. Even sleeping. But she put it off.........almost as tho she knew Holly was being removed from DiMansion. No ransom? No note to Chloe....ha, ha, we got Holly! Nope, too many holes in what is supposed to have happened. And no one asking any smart questions.
I think, for some reason, Nicole is in some plot of some kind with Xander. Because, when she returned to Eric, she was still married to Xander. Why hasn't ANYONE wanted to know how those inside escaped? Where they have been? HOW did Nicole know where Eric was living, since he only had been there a short time? (No one has asked about Jack, not at all). Why hasn't someone contacted Nashville police, or gone there to see what happened.
However, spoilers indicate we will know all come next week.