Borrowed, Blue, Dead

Prologue Brandon motioned for her to go on her way. Megan opened the first dressing room door, but it was empty. Moving to the only other door in the building, she reached for the doorknob. Before she could turn the knob, Barney gave a low growl. Now Megan was positive something was wrong. Brandon also noticed the dog’s reaction and jumped to his feet. He would be the first to go in that room, or his father would never forgive him. Gently nudging Megan out of his way, Brandon opened the door and walked into the room. Megan followed closely and they both saw the white mass of lace on the floor at the same time. Barney's pitiful wine pulled Megan’s attention away from the dreadful sight in front of her. Reassuring her dog, she glanced up into the eyes of her soon-to-be son-in-law. He appeared as confused as she did and together they look down at sight in front of them. There lay a beautiful gown, its lace spread out across the floor like a fan and the sequins in the train glistened in the overhead light. It was a beautiful dress, but the sight was horrendous because inside that gown was a bride. The grown was still virginal white with no signs of trauma from the body it encased. Dark hair from the woman spread across her shoulders and down her back, but Megan found it hard to see her face and identify the would-be bride. The bridal veil she wore was pulled from her head and tied tightly around her neck with the lace hanging over her face. A second whine her caught her attention and she looked down to reassure the little white Shih Tzu that was now standing by Barney’s side, but Barney wasn't going to just sit and stare at the dead woman. Instead he worked his way over to stand by the body, not touching it, but putting his paw on the veil as if to draw Megan's attention to it. She followed the dogs’ movement and gasped. "That's my bridal veil she's wearing!"