In the highly anticipated season 12 premiere of Chicago P.D., which aired on September 25th, fans were eager to see the Intelligence Unit back in action. The episode introduced Detective Emily Martel, a new character seemingly replacing Hailey Upton, but many viewers were quick to notice the absence of Officer Kim Burgess, portrayed by Marina Squerciati.

Early in the episode, it’s revealed that Burgess is attending a conference and grappling with a tough case, contemplating cutting her trip short to return to Chicago.

Her brief absence could hint at an upcoming storyline, particularly with the introduction of Detective Martel, which might signal a potential promotion within the Intelligence Unit. Showrunner Gwen Sigan has teased that a character who has “wanted it for a while” could be earning detective stripes this season.

Despite Burgess’ temporary absence, there’s good news for fans of the “Burzek” romance. Season 11 ended with Burgess and Ruzek getting engaged—again. Both Sigan and Squerciati have confirmed that a wedding is in the works for the beloved couple.