The season 3 premiere of CBS' Elsbeth addressed that surprise cast exit - but could the fan favorite character return in the future? During the Sunday, October 12, episode, Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) returned to work without Kaya (Carra Patterson) by her side. It was a notable change as Kaya adjusted to an undercover assignment in Washington D.C, which allowed the show's creative team to expand the world of the hit police procedural.