-1"Fontana."
The older detective exited the apartment at the lieutenant's signal and joined her in the hallway.
Van Buren looked around before leaning in and lowering her voice. "You gonna be alright to work this case?" Her voice and her eyes expressed concern.
Joe simply looked at her. "Yes, Lieutenant." His eyes were steely, almost devoid of emotion as he responded.
Anita sighed. "Joe, you can sit it out. Ed can handle the case. I'll send Cordova out with him. You don't have to do this."
"I do have to do this. I have to find her." The detective's naturally deep and gravelly voice dropped lower, cracked with the emotion he was trying to contain.
Straightening, Anita squared off, back in "Lieutenant mode." Nodding, she told him, "You'll stay on the case, but I'm gonna be keeping a close eye on you. I see anything that looks like you're getting over zealous, or falling apart, or not able to do your job, I'm benching ya. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am." Fontana let his eyes close for a moment as he took a deep breath. When he looked back at Van Buren, he gave a small grin, as if to assure her that he would be fine.
"Alright. Get back in there. I'm gonna go call McCoy."
