The latest episode of “NCIS” delivered a shocking revelation for Alden Parker, portrayed by Gary Cole. In the previous episode, viewers were left in suspense when Jimmy Palmer (played by Brian Dietzen) unearthed a startling truth about Parker’s mother’s death. After examining the original autopsy report, Jimmy confided in Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover) that the circumstances surrounding Eleanor Parker’s death didn’t add up to a mere car accident. In “God Only Knows,” Jimmy shares his findings with Alden, pointing out that Eleanor’s injuries were inconsistent with a head-on collision. Specifically, the trauma to her occipital bone suggested she was struck from behind, leading Jimmy to suspect foul play.

Despite his initial resistance, Alden is faced with the unsettling possibility that his mother was murdered. Jimmy proposes exhuming Eleanor’s body to uncover the truth, a suggestion that Alden initially resists. However, after resolving the case at hand, Alden concedes, granting Jimmy the go-ahead. This could finally bring closure to a mystery that’s haunted Alden for several seasons, with hopes of uncovering the truth behind Eleanor’s death.

The mystery surrounding Eleanor’s demise has been an ongoing thread since Season 21, triggered by Alden’s visions of a mysterious young girl named Lily. Although Alden recognizes her name, she’s a stranger to him. As he delves deeper into these visions, Alden uncovers that his father, Roman Parker (played by Francis X. McCarthy), had been less than truthful about Eleanor’s fate.

The death of Alden’s mother has been bothering him since Season 21, when he experienced a vision of a young girl named Lily. Though Alden knows her name, fans come to learn that he doesn’t know the girl at all. As he tries to figure out why he keeps having visions of Lily, Alden slowly learns that his father, Roman Parker (Francis X. McCarthy), lied about what happened to Eleanor.

Alden had initially been told that Eleanor died years after she abandoned Alden and his sister. But Roman confesses that Eleanor didn’t abandon the children; she died in a car accident. She was at fault, and was driving drunk at the time. Alden soon discovers, thanks to archival newspaper photos, that Lily was at the scene of the accident. The elder Parker later hints that he didn’t tell Alden everything he knows about his mom’s death, but Roman died in the Season 22 finale before he could explain himself.

The possibility that Eleanor was murdered throws a whole new light on all of this information — and leaves the viewer wondering why Lily keeps visiting Alden. Is the ghost trying to lead Alden to his mother’s killer? Is she tied to the crime somehow? Or is something else afoot? Hopefully, Jimmy’s autopsy skills will finally give Alden — and the show’s viewers — some kind of closure on both mysteries.