"I wish I were, but Seamus, I don't think I am," Ernie said with a sigh, getting up from his seat. He felt himself torn between the distance of professional duty (even though he was not on duty right then and there) and habit, and the empathy one would have towards a friend. The distance of the former was a significantly more comfortable place to be.
"Well we've found someone. And it seems likely that it is her, but you can let us know if it isn't her if you would just come with me," he said, trying to convey a degree of calmness that really shouldn't exist in such a situation. But Seamus needed to calm down; freaking out and being in complete denial with him (or even arguing with him) wasn't going to help. "Or is there anyone else--like other family--you can contact for such a situation?"