"Sid is the only person left who knows all the old mines. Do you want me to go and get him?"
"No thanks. I know where he lives. Thanks Doc, I'll try to keep in touch."
"She needs to be found Morgan. If her blood pressure goes up and she doesn't get any help, I don't like the chances of her keeping the baby and we don't have the facilities here to take care of a premmie."
"I'll take care of it." Hanging up he made another call to his brother before grabbing his car keys.
Running down the steps he met up with Ted.
"What is it with that jerk?" Ted handed over the file containing all of the ex-managers details.
"He wants revenge and he doesn't care at what cost. We have to find her and I think the best person for the job is Sid. Coming?"
"What do you think?"
They both jumped into the vehicle and Morgan drove toward town and Sid's house filling in Ted on the way.
The old man was sitting on his veranda in a chair sipping on a cup of tea. He stood when he saw Morgan walking toward him.
"Morgan, what can I do for you?"
"It's Stacey, Sid. The same man that took your gold has taken her and is holding her ransom for money. We need help to find her."
"Just pay him, lordy from what I hear you have plenty of cash."
Morgan stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding his temper in. "We do and I've already ordered the cash to be flown here but it takes time Sid. Time I don't know if she has. I called Doc and he is worried about her."
Sid grabbed the railing for support and his face paled. "She does too much that girl does. What can I do to help?"
"Doc said you are the only one left in town that knows all of the old mine shafts and the bush. We figure he won't hold her anywhere in town because someone would see her."
"But you are blasting. She could be in any one of those old shafts. You have to stop them now."
"Ted, call and put a stop to any more blasting. Stand all the men down and tell them to gather at the office and wait to hear from us. They can search instead of work until we find her."
"Sure thing." He turned away and made the call.
"You think he will do anything to hurt her?" Sid looked at Morgan with worry etching the lines already on his face.
"I hope not but he was sounding a little bit unstable."
"If anything happens to her, I'm holding you personally responsible."
"It won't, not if I have anything to do with it."
"That girl is gone on you, know that don't you?" Sid said walking down the steps toward him.
Morgan glanced at the old man. "No she isn't but thanks for trying to make me feel better."
"Man your age should be settled down by now with a family. Seems to me you are throwing away a good opportunity."
"Seems to me your old eyes are deceiving you Sid."
"Stacey would hardly bring you to meet me if she wasn't gone on you, that I can tell you. Now I suggest we head out and start looking before we lose light. It's going to be a cold one tonight."
Sid walked over to the car and waited for Morgan and Ted to catch up.
"All work has stopped at both mines and the men are waiting for directions. Sid, do you want to give us an idea of where to start looking?"
"Well, to my mind he would hardly go anywhere you could stumble over him by accident. It would have to be further afield than where you are blasting now. If you care to show me that, I can decide where else he may be." He climbed in the front of the car and waited.
"He is the only one that knows what is out there so let's go." Morgan climbed in the driver's seat and started the car. Ted climbed in the back. They drove in silence until the office came into view. A group of men were standing outside talking and looked up when Morgan pulled into the car park.
"Hey boss, what can we do to help?"
"Let us go searching, we can find her," came the cry from the men gathered to wait for them.
"Thanks, all of you. This here is Sid. He is one of the original gold miners and knows this area like the back of his hand. If we could just listen to him we can organize teams to cover some ground before dark. After that we will have to wait for daylight. It is too dangerous apparently with all of the old shafts."
The men gathered around Sid who pointed out where they should search first.
"He won't have her this side of the lease. Too many people could see him. My mine was over the back and I hope she isn't in there because it floods with the first spot of rain. My choice first off is to go down the track behind my place. Lots of smaller shafts and caves down that way." He rubbed his hand over his whiskery jaw and looked at Morgan. "If you could make sure everyone has torches and ropes, get a few ladders organized and food and drink we can make a move."
"Ted, can you organize that. Call the pub and ask Nigel to get something together to feed the men. I'm pretty sure he will be only too pleased. Send someone to pick him up because I know he won't stay where he is with Stacey missing. Take a vehicle and bring out whatever you can think of. Lots of water too."
Ted ran to his car and headed back to town to see Nigel and stock up for the searchers.
"Don't you think we should call in the police?"
"No time. They are hours away. I'll let them
