Austin shook his head. "Not if we can find her daughter."
Jackie's face jutted forward. "She has a daughter? Nick never said a word about a grandchild."
"He didn't know he had one," Austin answered. He paused long enough to take a bite of his sandwich, chew, and swallow. "I'll explain that in a moment." He handed Michael the next picture. "Meet Mathew Connelly. He hasn't worked a day in his life, and doesn't intend to start now. When Laura announced she was in love and intended to marry Connelly, Nick had him checked out."
"What did he find?" Carl asked.
"Nothing good, that's for sure. Connelly had been in prison for writing bad checks. He was suspected of bank fraud and possibly securities fraud, but they couldn't prove those two charges. Laura didn't care; she was determined to marry him anyway."
"The rich kid's curse," Michael said.
"Exactly," said Austin. "Connelly knew a good thing when he saw it and figured Laura was the best meal ticket in town. Nick told her if she married Connelly, he would cut her off. Laura didn't believe him."
"Did he cut her off?" Carl asked.
"He did," Jackie answered. "It was leaked to the tabloids right after she got married. It said something like, 'daughter gives up fortune to marry for love'."
"Nick was horrified when it was leaked to the press," Austin added. "He was a very private man, and it isn't hard to guess who leaked it."
"Not hard at all," said Carl.
"Who?" Michael asked. "Was it Laura or Mathew?"
"I doubt it was Laura," Austin said. "She loved her father and believed he would change his mind someday. I suspect Mathew thought embarrassing Nick would make him change his mind much sooner."
"What happened after Nick cut his daughter off?" Carl asked.