While Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) has an entire unit at his disposal, he prefers to work solo, only letting people in on a need-to-know basis. He has imparted lessons to the members about the unit’s hierarchy, and all of them are aware of their place within it. However, Chicago P.D. Season 13 is about to shake up the status quo with a new addition who doesn’t view herself as Voight’s subordinate, but more like his equal. Arienne Mandi joins Chicago P.D. in the upcoming season as Eva Imani. “She’s coming from the ATF, so she’s got a different background,” showrunner Gwen Sigan revealed in a new interview. Her combined experience in law enforcement, combined with her removal from this department and Voight’s clan, makes her like nothing they’ve ever seen before. Sigan explained, saying,

“She comes in hot. The first episode, she’s tracking a gun trafficker undercover and we wind up trying to find the same offender, so we end up working together. And it’s great because she’s coming in without any prior knowledge of Voight, so she’s not intimidated by him. She’s not this green, brand-new cop. She’s been around and is able to be very honest with Voight right off the bat. We see her speak to him like he’s anybody else on the street. She’s a breath of fresh air.”

Imani will occupy a position in the team rarely occupied by members. Because she’s not afraid of him, Imani gains an equal footing and rises to the level of Voight’s partner in the unit. She becomes “a little bit of a partner for Voight, whether he wants it or not,” the showrunner said. What does this mean for Voight and Chapman’s (Sara Bues) relationship? Could Imani be what he needs, given the numerous problems heading for the unit in Season 13?

Nothing Is the Same for Intelligence In ‘Chicago P.D.’ Season 13

Imani finds the unit as they are dealing with the consequences of Deputy Chief Reid’s (Shawn Hatosy) death at the end of Season 12. “So the team is actually disbanded and we are, in this first episode, exploring how the heck is he gonna get them back together?” the showrunner teased. Once they’re back together, then they can tackle some upcoming problems, including one Sigan described as “creepy.” “It’s very emotional [story] and kinda creepy. I’m leaning into the creepiness of it,” she said.