Killer Caramel Cookies: Book 1 in the Killer Cookie Series Read online

  They spent the better part of the next hour making the cookies. By the time the first batch was done and ready for her to try, Lilah’s stomach was growling. The kitchen smelled even better than before, if that was possible, but it was also sweltering. She was relieved by the time she finished squeezing the last of the caramel cheesecake filling into the final pumpkin cookie cup and finally got the chance to pour herself a glass of cold iced tea from Margie’s fridge and sit down.

  “You really had a great idea, to make these cookies, Lilah,” her friend said. “I think they need something sprinkled on top, though, don’t you?”

  “Like what?” she asked, standing up again.

  “Something to tie the flavors of the cookie together with the filling… how about some cinnamon and maybe some crushed pecans?”

  Lilah agreed that all of that sounded very good. It didn’t take long for the two women to arrange the first batch of cookies on a platter, sprinkle the spice and crushed nuts over the pumpkin ones, and finish cleaning up the mess that they had left behind. At long last, Margie took two small plates down from the cupboard and put a pumpkin spice cookie cup on each of them.

  “I think we’ve earned some dessert before dinner, don’t you?” she asked, putting one of the plates at the table in front of Lilah and sitting down across from her with the other one.

  Lilah picked up the cookie cup and took a tentative bite out of it, her eyes widening in shock. Was it really possible that something that she had made had turned out this good? She took another bite. Yep, she decided. Definitely possible.

  “Mmm, I’m glad you came over to help, Lilah,” Margie said. “This pumpkin spice idea of yours turned out well. It has a lot more pizazz than the cookies I was originally going to make.”

  “You’re the one that told me how to do everything — I just had the idea,” she replied. “I really enjoyed baking with you today. Next time you need help, let me know.”

  “I’ll make sure to tell you,” her friend said. “Now, I want to hear how you’re doing. You holding up okay after losing your dream job?”

  “I’ve decided that being a voice-over actress wasn’t actually my dream job,” Lilah said. “It was just… an interesting detour. I’ve found what I really want to do. The salon in Vista is hiring…”

  With that, she began telling Margie everything that she had read about hair and life as a hairdresser. Tomorrow morning, she was planning to go to the local library and print off a resume. With any luck, she would be hired within the week.

  CHAPTER THREE

  After turning in her — rather extensive — resume and doing an on-the-spot interview, Lilah waited an anxious twenty-four hours before getting a call back. She nearly jumped for joy at the news that she had gotten the job.

  “When should I start?” she asked.

  “Can you be here tomorrow, just before one?”

  “Sure thing! Thank you so much.” She hung up the phone, reflecting on how lucky she was, and then realizing that she had only a day to break the news to Randall that she would be quitting again so soon. He would understand… probably.

  Walking into the hair salon on her first day of work was everything that she had dreamed it would be. A blast of air conditioning enveloped her as she came through the doors, accompanied by an array of scents from various hair products. Lilah could easily envision herself with a client, blow-drying a head full of silky hair.

  “Lilah Fallon?” asked a woman with luscious red hair who was a few years older than Lilah, maybe even into her mid-forties.

  “That’s me,” Lilah told her brightly. “Are you Gwen Foley?” She thought she recognized the woman’s voice as the one from the phone call telling her that she was hired.

  “I am. It’s nice to meet you in person. Kristie had a lot of good things to say about you. It’s wonderful that you were able to start so soon. I know she’s eager to take some time off before her baby comes. Well, are you ready to get started? Today’s a busier day than usual. With the festival coming up, everyone wants to look their best.”

  “I’m ready. Where do I start?” she asked, following her new boss over to one of the stations. She eyed the scissors there, wondering if she might get a chance to cut someone’s hair on her first day.

  Gwen eyed her for a moment, evaluating her. “Let’s begin with shampooing,” she suggested at last. “We’ll go over scalp massage techniques, and I’ll teach you about the different products while you observe me do a few washes. Then, we’ll let you try one yourself.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Lilah said, eager to get started.

  Her first day at the salon went off without a hitch. Gwen told her about all of the different types of shampoos and conditioners that they used, and showed her how to massage the products onto the scalp. The first time she was allowed to wash someone’s hair by herself, she even got a compliment from the client on how gentle she was.

  Feeling a glow of happiness deep inside her, and certain that she had finally found her true calling, Lilah volunteered to stay late and help clean up just so she could pick Gwen’s brain for a little while longer.

  “See you tomorrow,” she called when she was on her way out the door at last. She was so focused on thoughts about her new job, that she nearly bowled her best friend over as she turned to walk down the sidewalk towards home.

  “Whoa,” Val said, putting an arm out to steady her. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

  “Just on my way home. What about you? What’s in all of those bags?” Lilah asked.

  “Oh, just odds and ends for the art festival. Plus some books I need to drop off in the library’s donation box. Margie roped me into that one.”

  Valerie Palmer was her old college roommate and current best friend. She was always knee-deep in whatever festival or activity was happening next in Vista, and usually tried her best to get Lilah involved, too.

  “Do you need help carrying anything?” she asked her friend. “I could drop the books off at the library for you. I pass it on my way home.”

  “Oh, would you?” Val asked. “That would help a bundle. Thanks, Li’.” She dumped a heavy paper bag into Lilah’s arms. “I owe you one. Stop by the boutique sometime and pick out something nice for yourself. Stop and have a chat while you’re at it. We don’t see each other enough!”

  With that, Valerie hurried off, and Lilah staggered under the load of books in the opposite direction. She was already halfway down the street when she realized that she had completely forgotten to tell her friend about her new job. She turned, but Val was long gone. Deciding to give her a call later, she continued on, wondering just how many books her friend had managed to find this time around. If she had to guess, she would have said a million.

  At home, she took a short breather during which she filled up Winnie’s food bowl, opened a new can of cat food for Oscar, and changed into more comfortable clothes. Still in a good mood from the first day at her job, she decided to go for a run. Her cupboards were still discouragingly empty, so on her way back, she planned to swing by the diner for dinner.

  She set off towards town, the streetlights just beginning to come on. It was a pleasantly cool evening, which made running much more pleasurable than it had been earlier in the year. She quickly found her stride, her tennis shoes slapping the concrete of the sidewalk rhythmically. She lost herself in her thoughts, most of which involved her ambitious plans for the future.

  She passed a few other people out for an evening stroll, but she was a good two miles into her run before she saw someone that she recognized. Reid. He had just turned the corner, and was looking down at his phone. He hadn’t seen her yet. Lilah considered her options; she could keep going towards him, and likely be drawn into yet another conversation where he asked her about things that she didn’t want to talk about; she could dodge across the street, which would work just fine if she wanted to get run over; or she could turn and take off in the opposite direction, back towards the diner and home.

&nbs
p; Since the third option was the only one that didn’t come with an awkward encounter or possible death, that was the one that she opted for. Performing what she thought was a very graceful move, she spun around mid-stride and started running back the way that she came. She thought, for a moment, that she heard someone call out her name, then decided that it had just been the wind, and forced herself to run even faster for good measure.

  Lilah pushed her way into the diner a few minutes later, and closed her eyes with pleasure as the cooler air washed over her. She was glad that Randall’s ancient air conditioner was still managing to chug along, despite being held together mostly with duct tape and good thoughts. Taking a seat in a booth by the door, she gave the waitress who brought her a cup of ice cold water a grateful smile.

  “Thanks, Kate,” she said. “You’re a life saver.”

  “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you in here for a while,” the younger woman said. “You just quit yesterday, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah, but Randall understands,” Lilah said. “Working here was only ever supposed to be temporary.”

  “I guess.” Kate twirled a lock of her springy black hair around her finger. “What can I get ya? The special tonight is a Swiss mushroom burger with caramelized onions and steak sauce. And bottomless house fries.”

  “I’ll take that. Thanks, Kate.”

  Feeling euphoric from her run and her awesome day at her new job, and a bit lightheaded from hunger, Lilah was happy to sit back in her booth and relax while she waited for her order. Her gaze traveled around the room, seeking out familiar faces. There was Marie Motts, who worked at the local country store, along with her son, Greg, who was about Lilah’s age and worked at the local machine shop. A blond woman that she didn’t recognize was sitting with them. She considered walking over to say hi, but decided against it — she was still sweaty from her run, after all.

  Lilah took another sip of her water, then pulled out her phone to check her bank account. It was a good thing that she still had some tips from her last day at the diner, because her account was running near empty. Her job at the salon had really better pan out, because if it didn’t, then she was going to have to start making some serious lifestyle changes.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Refreshed and ready for work, Lilah walked into the salon the next day itching to get to going. She was excited at the prospect of being able to work with more clients on her own today. Gwen had seemed so pleased with her skills the day before, and she was determined to do just as well, if not better, on her second day.

  “Ready to get started?” her boss called over to her. “You can begin by shampooing Ms. Hawning’s hair, while I finish up with Teri here.”

  Gwen already had a client in the chair, a pretty woman with light brown hair that Lilah assumed was Teri. There was another woman sitting in the waiting area, the same blond woman that she had seen at the diner the night before, in fact.

  “Hi,” she said with a smile. “I’m Lilah.”

  “Ellen Hawning,” the woman said. She paused and looked expectantly at Lilah.

  “Nice to meet you. If you’ll follow me over to the sinks, I’ll get you set up for a wash.”

  The other woman kept looking at her for another moment, as if waiting for her to say something else, then gave a sigh and stood up. “Very well.”

  Lilah led her towards the back, where she got her settled in one of the chairs by the sinks. She rolled up a towel and put it under the woman’s neck, anxious to ensure that her client would be comfortable.

  “Tell me if it’s too warm or too cold,” she said as she turned the water on.

  She began wetting down the woman’s hair, careful not to catch any of the strands on her fingers. Being as gentle as possible, she began massaging some of the salon’s best shampoo into Ellen’s hair. Working from her scalp all the way down to the tips of her hair, she made sure she didn’t miss any of it. This client would walk out of the salon with the cleanest, softest hair imaginable.

  “How much longer do you think you’ll be, Gwen?” she asked as she began to rinse the suds out of Ellen’s hair.

  “Oh, another forty-five minutes to an hour, tops,” her boss replied. “The highlights have to set, then I’ve still got to brush and style her hair.”

  Ellen gave another annoyed sigh. Lilah looked down at her, feeling bad. She probably wouldn’t want to wait another hour to get her hair done either, if she was in the other woman’s position.

  “I’ll do a special deep conditioning treatment for you while you wait, if you’d like,” she suggested.

  “Okay,” Ellen said. “Do what you want.”

  Lilah grabbed the bottle and squirted a generous amount of the conditioner onto her palm. It was dark red, and smelled strongly chemical. From what her boss had said the day before, this professional conditioner was almost magical, able to bring lasting moisture to even the driest hair.

  She began to work it through her client’s hair, massaging her scalp and slowly working it down to the ends. After dragging her fingers through to make sure there weren’t any tangles, she pinned Ellen’s wet hair up, put a plastic cap over it, then parked her under a hair dryer, where she would sit for the next forty-five minutes while waiting for her turn with Gwen.

  Lilah cleaned up her station while she waited, noticing that the two women in the chairs seemed to be trading nasty looks at each other. Was it just because they had been double booked, or was there another reason that they didn’t like each other? She found herself watching them instead of cleaning, and quickly forced herself to focus on her job instead. She wasn’t here to people watch; she was here to work.

  It was nearly an hour before Gwen finally nodded to Lilah and told her that she could get started on rinsing the conditioner out of Ellen’s hair. “I’m just about done with Teri,” she said. “Make sure you rinse out the conditioner very well. If you leave any in, it will make her hair heavy and greasy looking.”

  “My hair has to be perfect,” Ellen said, sounding concerned.

  “Don’t worry,” Lilah assured her. “I’ll rinse all of the conditioner out of it. You just sit down at the sink again and relax.”

  She rolled up a fresh, dry towel and settled Ellen’s head down, taking some time to heat the water up to the right temperature before taking off the plastic cap. Humming to herself, she began to rinse the conditioner out. She rinsed. And rinsed. With a frown, Lilah turned up the temperature of the water a bit more and began rubbing the other woman’s hair with her fingers. For some reason, the red conditioner just didn’t want to come out. Had she let it sit too long?

  Beginning to feel concerned, she put the faucet head down and picked up the bottle of conditioner, looking for directions. What she saw made her heart skip a beat.

  “Um, Gwen?” she said tentatively. “Could you come here for a second?”

  “What’s going on?” Ellen asked, looking up at her with a panicked expression.

  “It’s going to be all right,” Lilah said. “Just… Gwen, I really need you!”

  Her boss put down her brush and hurried over to the sinks. She gave her employee a quizzical look, then looked down at Ellen.

  “Oh, my goodness,” she said, going pale.

  “I think… I think I used hair color instead of conditioner,” Lilah said weakly. She and Gwen both stared down at their client in horrified silence. Ellen’s beautiful blond hair was now bright red.

  Teri, who had turned in her seat, half of her hair still up in curlers, started snickering when she saw the other woman’s disastrous coloring. Ellen sat up like a bolt and started patting at her head, as if she would be able to feel the dye. She pulled a strand of hair in front of her eyes, gasped, then stood up and rushed over to a mirror, dripping pink drops of water all over the floor.

  “What… what did you do?” she shrieked. She spun on Lilah. “How could you do this? Are you trying to sabotage me?”

  “I didn’t mean to! I promise, it was an accident. I thought I was u
sing conditioner.” She turned to Gwen. “You can wash it out, right?”

  Her boss was shaking her head, looking mortified. “I can’t wash out that dye, Lilah. It’s semi-permanent, and will fade out on it’s own over a few weeks.”

  “Can you color over it?” Ellen asked, touching her hand to her wet locks as she looked at herself in the mirror once more. “Just bleach it, or something. I need my blond back.”

  “Ellen, I’m sorry, but that dye sat on your hair for almost an hour. It would take a lot to bleach it out, and when I got done, your hair would be like straw. I hate to say it, but if you don’t want to wreck your hair, you’re going to have to wait it out. If you come back in a few weeks after it has faded some, then I may be able to do something.”