도박사 잭 II/7권

제7회 그림자

「그럼 할, 내 질문에 답해 줄 거지？」

「응, 약속했으니까.」 할은 시원하게 고개를 끄덕인다.

「후후, 착한 아이네.」

「이런 것을 묻는 것은 무신경한 걸지도 모르겠지만……」

「7년 전, 킹에게 무언가 받은 거 없어？」

7년 전, 아버지에 대한 기억…… 그 후에 일어났던 것을 생각하면 할의 마음에는 언제나 슬픔이 되살아난다. 하지만 그것은 잭과 함께 보내는 일상 속에서 조금씩 풀어지고 있었다.

니케의 질문을 받고 기억을 더듬는 할. 생각해보니…… 항상 걸고 있는 예쁜 보석이 박혀있는 동방 풍의 목걸이였다.

「이 목걸이…… 이거야.」

「7년 전, 아빠의 병문안을 왔을 때 목에 걸어 줬어.」

「그래, 그것만 들으면 충분해.」

할의 옛날 이야기를 얌전한 표정으로 듣는 니케.

「──그럼, 슬슬 데이트 시간이니 오늘은 이쯤에서 가볼게.」

그렇게 말하는 니케는 마스터에게 칩을 건내고 당당하게 술집을 나갔다. 주변의 건달들은…… 방금 전의 일들을 그저 조용히 지켜볼 수밖에 없었다.

「그건 그렇고…… 잭이 늦네.」

장을 보러 가서 벌써 한 시간 정도가 흘렀다. 가는 길에 어디라도 들렸을 것이다. 평소대로라며 한숨을 쉬고 다시 일을 시작한 할. 모아둔 쓰레기를 버리기 위해 뒷문을 열었다.

그대로 밖으로 나간 순간──갑자기“그림자”가 덮쳤다.

「어이！ 잭 님이 돌아오셨다.」

기분 좋게 가게의 문을 여는 잭. 그 소리는 이미 비명이 아닌 절규였다. 예상대로 가는 길에 어딘가에 들렸던 것인지 필요 이상의 봉투를 가지고 있다.

「어라, 할은 어디 간 거야？」

그러고보니, 라며 말을 시작한 마스터. 쓰레기를 버리러 간지 한참이 지나도 돌아오지 않는다──잭은 불길한 예감이 들었다.

서둘러 뒷문으로 나가보니 거기에는 쓰레기 봉투와 카드가 한 장 떨어져 있었다. 그리고 앞면에는 다음과 같이 적혀 있었다──

『할의 신병은 맡아두도록 하지. 되찾고 싶다면 지정된 장소로 오도록. ──레너드』

「이건……！」

잭은 카드를 손으로 구겼다.

Chapter 7 - The Shadow

'Well, then...' Nike continued. 'I take it you'll be willing to answer my question?'

Halle nodded. 'That was the deal.'

'Haha. Good girl. Now, I realize it might be insensitive to ask about this...but King didn't happen to leave anything in your care seven years ago, did he?'

Halle cast her mind back to her last memory of her father and felt a slight twinge of sadness thinking about what had happened to him after it. The pain of his loss had subsided since she met Jack and would likely continue to do so, but it would be a lie to say that it had completely gone.

She racked her brain seeking an answer to Nike's question, and quickly realized that the other woman was probably asking about the jeweled Eastern-style necklace that she wore around her neck.

'This,' Halle said, showing her the pendant. 'He gave it to me when he came to visit for the last time.'

Nike was silent for a moment. 'Thank you. That's all I wanted to know.' She rose from the stool. 'Well, then, I suppose I should be going. I wouldn't want to keep Leonard waiting.'

Her farewell said, she handed a tip to the bar's owner and exited with a beguiling sweep through the door.

The punks watched her departure in silence, none daring to break her spell even after she was gone.

After Nike had left, Halle resumed her usual work. Time ticked by as she wiped down tables and busied herself.

She sighed. 'Jack sure is late...'

It had been almost an hour since he had left to run his errands. She wasn't concerned about him, though. She'd bet her boots that he was just off somewhere slacking or messing about.

She stepped outside through the back entrance to take out the garbage. Just as she did, a great shadow filled the alley, blanketing her in darkness.

'Hey, hey! Guess who's back!' came the loud call of none other than Jack. His voice was almost drowned out by the shriek of the door as he flung it open.

One look at him proved Halle's suspicions on his tardiness correct; he had far more shopping bags than he should have.

'Huh? Where'd Halle go?' he asked, noticing her absence.

The owner glanced around. 'Now you mention it, I haven't seen her since she went to take the garbage out earlier.'

Jack was suddenly overcome by a great sense of foreboding. He hurried out the back entrance, but only a collection of scattered garbage bags awaited him. Bags...and a very conspicuously placed card.

On its front was a simple message.

'We have Halle. If you want her back, come to the designated place.

- Leonard'

'Damn it!'

Jack's angry cry echoed in the empty alley. His face a thundercloud, he crushed the card in his fist.