In the latest episode of “Chicago P.D.,” viewers get a deeper look into the mysterious background of newcomer Eva Imani, portrayed by Ari Mandi. As Season 13 unfolds, Episode 4, “Root Cause,” unveils more about Eva’s history and personal connections. When she teams up with Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe, to track down a suspect involved in a series of robberies, their investigation takes them to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Eva goes undercover, adopting an alias, and performs so convincingly as a struggling addict that Hank questions her on her realism.

Eva replies, “Is that your way of asking if I have a drug issue? No, I don’t. I’ve just attended plenty of N.A. meetings.” When Hank probes further, she discloses that she frequented these meetings in her search for her sister, who vanished when Eva was just eight. Though she doesn’t delve into more details at that moment, she later exhibits her fluency in Farsi, affirming her earlier claim of being bilingual.

During the episode, Eva spots a wanted poster that leaves her visibly unsettled. It raises the question of whether she recognized her sister or another family member. The answer remains elusive for now, echoing the long-standing mystery surrounding Hank’s own childhood, which is finally on the verge of being uncovered after 13 seasons.

But Eva isn’t the only character facing revelations from the past. At the episode’s start, Hank receives a mysterious manila envelope and asks Trudy, played by Amy Morton, to trace its origins. The envelope’s contents? A haunting photo of a young Hank, bruised and lying in a hospital bed.

Eva isn’t the only character whose past receives a partial exhumation thanks to unforeseen circumstances. Early in the episode, Hank receives a manila envelope and asks Trudy (Amy Morton) to figure out where it came from. Later, the contents of the mailer are revealed — a picture of a young Hank lying battered in a hospital bed.

“Chicago P.D.” has avoided telling viewers too much about where Hank came from and what his family was like. Audiences know he idolized his policeman father, which is why he entered the academy — and that his dad died in the line of duty. In spite of the fact that Hank is the “Chicago P.D.” character who arguably breaks the most rules, he’s always had a tender side and a soft spot for wounded people. Specifically, he cares about the welfare of abused children. 

He has tried to shelter and protect a number of them from violence and the end result hasn’t always been pleasant. Hank went the distance to protect his own son, Justin (Josh Segarra), from getting hurt in spite of their strained relationship. When Justin’s brutal murder eventually occurs in Season 3, it shakes Hank badly. But it looks like “Chicago P.D.” is finally going to fill in some information gaps and reveal what happened to Hank after his dad died — and why he’s so private about his past.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.