He pushed a ladder into a dark hole in the corner.
Surely not. No I can't go down there, I seriously can't.
"Get over here bitch." He glowered at her in the torch light and stepped forward when Stacey didn't comply with his request. He grabbed her arm and dragged her over to the ladder. "Get down there before I throw you down."
"Why are you doing this? I've never done anything to you." She tried to stall for time while her mind frantically looked for a way out.
"That bastard lost me a well paying job. He owes me and you are going to be the way I get it."
"He is hardly going to pay a ransom for me. Hell, he doesn't even want to know me, understand. I'm not some big prize to him so you are shit out of luck." Stacey's heart was racing but he didn't look like he believed her.
"That's bullshit and you know it. I heard him telling his brother he had met someone and we both know it was you. Now you are full of his kid. He'll want to pay the money alright."
"No, you have it wrong, believe me. He even tried to buy me off."
"Stop stalling and get down there. Now!"
He pushed her toward the ladder and she had no choice but to grab hold of it and start her descent before he threw her down. She had no doubt in his current state he would do it. Mike kept the light on her all the way down and it gave her a chance to look at where she was going to be holed up.
A small cavern shot off a series of tunnels and the sound of dripping water was coming from one of them. Before she could think the light was gone and the ladder was pulled up.
"Stop, you can't leave me here. Stop." Oh please don't leave me here alone.
Stacey sank to her knees and leaned against the cold stone wall. Wrapping her arms around herself she broke down and cried huge sobs that wracked her body and drained her energy.
* * *
"Hello, this is Morgan Taylor."
"You slimy bastard, do you know who this is?" The voice was slurred but Morgan knew who it was immediately.
"Mike, are you back in Sydney yet?" He stood and looked out the window of his office, waiting for the voice on the other end of the phone to tell him he what he wanted to hear.
"Didn't you get the message from that little slut you played around with?" He cackled over the line. "Thought she got one through to you, what a laugh."
His blood ran cold and he looked at his desk for his mobile. He had missed a message because it was on silent while he was taking an important call. Damn it. "What have you done with her Mike?"
"Wouldn't you like to know you rich bastard? What do you care anyway? Had your fun with her and left her pregnant. Don't know why you care."
"If you don't tell me where she is I will hunt you down and kill you, understand?"
He cringed at the drunken laughter on the other end of the phone. There was a sound of glass on glass and then someone drinking loudly.
"You will never find her, understand. Never."
"What do you want Mike? Do you want me to get your wife up here for you to talk to, what?"
"You leave her out of it. She is too good for the likes of you. No, I want money and plenty of it. Cash since you took the gold from me and get it soon. I will let you have her back for three million dollars in cash."
"I don't exactly have that in my wallet Mike, I think you know that."
"She ain't going anywhere til I get it." There was the sound of drinking again and a big sigh. "Just letting you know, she is somewhere cold and dark with nothing to eat or drink. That might make you try a bit harder. Cash."
The phone disconnected and Morgan swore. Quickly dialing a number he contacted Ted and told him what had happened and asked him to get all of Mike's details before coming over. Then he phoned his brother.
"Bran, I have a problem."
Morgan filled him in and listened while he got a lecture about choosing friends wisely and pissing of the wrong people.
"He was your bloody manager Bran, you should have vetted him better."
"Look, there is no point getting het up about this. The way I see it you need money and fast, right? So why don't you just breath a bit while I try to organize something. I could be with you tomorrow if there is somewhere to land the plane safely."
"It has an airport. Not as flash as you might like but it works. Call me with details when you can and I'll try to organize a search here. Thanks buddy."
Morgan pinched the skin between his eyes and groaned. This was the last thing he expected from Mike. He would be pissed off for sure but to take Stacey was just ludicrous.
Picking up the phone again he called the hospital and asked to speak to Doc.
"Doc, it's Morgan. Sorry to tell you this but Stacey has been taken."
"No, she's fine. She was just here a couple of hours ago getting her check up. She is looking much better too now she is resting."
"She was grabbed on the way back to the hotel. One of our managers was fired for stealing Sid's gold. I thought he had left town but obviously not. He took Stacey and wants three million for her release."
He heard the groan on the other end of the phone.
"Doc, hey Doc. I need your help to try and find her. I suspect he has her hold up somewhere in the bush because she would be found
