Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 9 recap: What happened in the mid-season premiere?

NBC's Chicago PD has been entertaining fans for years, with each episode diving into new cases and exploring the personal struggles of the characters. The drama isn't just about action and suspense, but how these officers handle multiple cases which often put their lives at risk.

The show returned with Season 12 in 2024, and NBC recently aired its midseason premiere. Episode 9 "Friends and Family" extensively focuses on Kiana Cook, the newcomer in the intelligence unit.

It not only explores her skills while fighting crime but also dives into her backstory and family dynamics. As the episode begins, the officer is seen helping her father at their family convenience store.

Since Cook has a responsible job, she suggests her father hire more people for help, as she might not always be there. However, her father brushes off her concern as they've always managed to run the store without much help.

However, this doesn't mean that her father isn't supportive. He's the one who is happy about his daughter, unlike Kiana's estranged mother who doesn't like her job. The episode revolves around multiple car crashes due to which Kiana must seek help from her mother.

Continue reading for a detailed recap of the midseason premiere.

Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 9 recap: A multiple-car crash results in a death

Kiana Cook takes on a case (Image Source: NBC)

As the focus shifts from Kiana Cook's family convenience store, the intelligence unit officer is seen on her way to work when she notices a man driving carelessly. Cook says "What's this dumb*** doing" and the next minute she witnesses the same car crashing and leading to more cars colliding.

Cook immediately gets out of her car and asks people to stay in their cars, she calls the medics and checks the injured. When the officer approaches the man who caused the accident, she sees that he is fatally injured and drenched in blood from head to toe.

Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 9 revealed the man to be Gregory Miller, who told Cook about his family's abduction. He was on his way to pay the ransom, but the accident caused a delay and his ultimate death.

Cook even saw around $22K cash and jewelry in his car, proving he wasn't lying about the kidnapping. The officer is startled by the truth and informs Det. Sgt. Hank Voight about the case.

Also Read: Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 10: Release date and time, what to expect, and more

Investigation unfolds in Chicago PD Season 12 Episode 9

Gregory Miller and his family (Image Source: NBC)

Kiana Cook, Sgt. Hank Voight along with Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess begin the investigation and discover that Gregory Miller's wife and two daughters have been kidnapped. Voight and Cook discovered the severed finger of Miller's wife, which made him fearful, and he decided to pay the ransom.

When Ruzek and Burgess arrived at the accident location, they informed Voight about the car's broken GPS and his locked phone. This led them to believe that the kidnappers were behind Miller's wealth.

As the investigation continues in the Chicago PD Season 12 episode, it's revealed that Gregory Miller was far from a wealthy man. He was struggling financially and did not have enough money for ransom. So, he took help from his brother to save his family, but before he could do that, he died in a tragic car crash.

This revelation complicates the case as the officers now wonder why the kidnappers targeted a broke man.

The kidnapper's dark motives revealed in the Chicago PD midseason episode

Voight with his team (Image Source: NBC)

Later in the Chicago PD Season 12 episode, the officers receive a video showing Gregory Miller's wife being executed. Voight, Cook, and the team manage to track the warehouse and find the dead body of Miller's wife.

However, no evidence or clue could lead them to the two girls, who are still alive. Voight analyzes the situation and says that they only have three hours, and plans to pay the ransom. He then asks for money from his boss.

Deputy Chief Charlie Reid suggests they use fake money, but Voight, determined to save the girls refuses to risk their lives. So, he finally receives $60,000 from Ried. The rest were contributed by Kiana Cook who sought her mother's help.

Also Read: Where is Nancy Campbell-Panitz's killer now? Details about Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action subject explored

Kiana Cook has a complicated relationship with her mother in Chicago PD

Kiana Cook is a newcomer in the series (Image Source: NBC)

As mentioned earlier, Kiana Cook's mother doesn't seem to be a supportive mom, who's happy about her daughter's career as a cop. However, she still agreed to give her money on the condition that Kiana attended a fundraiser. Determined to save the girls, Kiana Cook agrees to the condition and gets the money by attending the event.

The girls are rescued after an extensive search

Gregory Miller's daughters (Image Source: NBC)

Now that the team has enough money, they follow the kidnapper’s instructions. As the Chicago PD episode nears its end it's revealed that the kidnapping was never for money but due to Miller's wife's affair with one of the kidnappers Lucas.

The officers threaten him with a sentence in prison and ask him to reveal the location of the girls. Cook and her team finally succeed in their plan as they rescue the girls safely.

However, since both their parents are dead the girls are sent away to live with their uncle. As for Kiana Cook, while she feels relieved having saved the girls, her family dynamics continue to trouble her.