Warning! Spoilers ahead for Chicago PD season 5 episode 5.
Intelligence's latest challenge is exactly what Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) needs to fix its big Halstead exiting Chicago PD.
In Chicago PD season 10, episode 5, "Pink Cloud," Upton realizes that the son of the new Police Chief, Sean O'Neal (Jefferson White) has been secretly trafficking girls for years. This gives Intelligence a brand-new challenge for the rest of the season as it pits Voight's team against the brass. This isn't exactly new for the squad; they have gone up against the higher-ups before, but this one comes at an important time when Upton is trying to keep herself busy after Halstead's sudden exit from Intelligence. Since Upton has become invested in this case, it gives her a good avenue to channel all her pent-up frustrations amid her and her husband's current predicament.
How Halstead Is Involved In Intelligence’s New Case
Since Voight instituted Intelligence, the Chicago Police have changed chief multiple times in the Dick Wolf-produced series. He has gone up against most of them, and despite his rank, Voight almost always ends up with the upper hand, hence countless changes in brass. Police Chief Patrick O’Neal (Michael Gaston) is particularly tricky to deal with because he knows the real reason for Halstead's sudden Intelligence exit. He was the last person that the former detective talked to before he bid Upton and Voight goodbye. Given how protective he was with his son as seen in Chicago PD season 10, episode 5, it's likely that he will use that knowledge against Upton and Intelligence.
What’s Next For Hailey Upton?
“Pink Cloud” ended on a cliffhanger after Upton laid out her discovery about the younger O’Neal. It's uncertain what the team's next course of action is in Chicago PD season 10, but considering Voight's commitment to his work and trust in his detectives, chances are that he will give the go-ahead to continue the investigation. Depending on how long the One Chicago police procedural is planning to tackle this case, it is also likely that it will run for a couple more episodes, perhaps even until the end of the year, which will continuously put Upton at the center of Chicago PD's storytelling.
Letting Halstead go is a massive blow to Upton, but instead of seeing her wallow in sadness, giving her a case that she is deeply invested in is a good way to utilize the character. The rest of his co-workers are worried about her, but she has been determined to deal with the situation on her own in Chicago PD. Now, the new case can keep her busy until more heartbreak inevitably comes for Upton and Halstead on the show.
Chicago PD season 11 airs Wednesdays on NBC.