The Return of Ellie Black

Chelsey visits Brielle Ross, the head detective on the Barlowe case. Brielle explains that Gabrielle lived with her grandmother and siblings. The police found Gabrielle’s car by the side of the road with the window smashed in. CCTV footage showed that a blue station wagon followed Gabrielle through a red light, but there was no license plate, and they never found the car. Gabrielle’s body was discovered by a horseback rider on the side of a trail. She was naked and had been strangled by hand. There was no DNA evidence on the body, but she had Queen Anne’s lace in her bloodstream and bite marks from a dog on her leg, most likely inflicted before she died. Brielle gives Althea’s information to Chelsey.

Dr. Cerise Fischer sits across from Ellie for their first session. Cerise explains that Ellie has been diagnosed with acute anxiety and that she may be dissociating. Ellie asks Cerise about doctor-patient confidentiality, and Cerise promises that everything will stay between them unless Ellie poses a threat to herself or others. Ellie says that she is thinking about forgiveness and whether people can be forgiven for their horrible actions. Cerise wonders what Ellie has done to wonder such a thing, but she tells Ellie that they can talk more about it in their next session.