A skinny latte? Since when did a vampire have to worry about her weight? I ordered—and got—both a skinny and a full-cream latte, then walked across to the table she'd selected in the corner.
I placed her cup in front of her then sat down opposite. After peeling off the plastic lid, I dumped three packets of sugar in and gave it a quick stir.
Hunter took hers as is—although the brief flicker of distaste that crossed her face once she'd taken a sip more than backed up her statement that she liked neither this place nor this coffee.
Tough.
I took a drink, tried not to think about the thick, gooey cake I'd left sitting at home, and said, "So why am I the lucky recipient of a personal visit from the woman in charge of the Directorate?"
She interlaced her fingers and stared at me blandly. "I'm here about your father."
"Isn't everyone," I muttered, and wished I'd brought some alcohol with me. I had a feeling I was going to need it.
She raised a sculpted black eyebrow. "There have been others inquiring about your father's whereabouts?"
"Yeah, but you already know that. Uncle Rhoan took one of the thugs in for questioning yesterday afternoon."
"Ah yes," she said, as if she'd forgotten, though we both knew she hadn't. "Unfortunately, that man couldn't tell us anything we didn't already know."
"And what do you already know?" I didn't think she'd answer, but it was worth a shot.
She simply gave me one of those cool vampire smiles they all seemed to do so well. "Have you heard from your father?"
"No. And I don't expect to, either." I raised the cup, took another drink, then reached for another sugar packet. "Why is the Directorate suddenly so interested in whatever my father is up to? You hunt down bad vamps, not Aedh up to no good."
She took another sip of coffee, and it wasn't a case of second time lucky. She took a handkerchief from her purse and gently patted her lips, as if to wipe away the flavor. I snorted softly. Okay, so it wasn't top-shelf, but it wasn't that bad, either.
"We are responsible for tracking down anything that is guilty of destroying human lives," she said eventually. "And if the rumors about what your father is attempting are true, then he could potentially destroy millions. That makes it our business."