Constantine - The Novelization - Whoa is (Not)

A black spider, no bigger than a dime, ran across the window seat beside him. Constantineclapped the shot glass down, trapping the spider under it. He took a drag on his cigarette, bent,and tilted the glass to blow smoke inside it. The spider skittered about, looking for a way out ofthe poison air, hitting only invisible glass barriers. Trapped and dying.'Welcome to my life," Constantine said to the spider."Mr. Constantine?"He blinked, looked closer at the spider, then realized that someone at the half-open door hadspoken. It was that woman from the hospital - and the Theological Society.She looked down the length of his long, narrow, holy-water-lined apartment - its dim,protracted space shot through with light angling from the blinds. "I saw you at-""I remember.""And..."He nodded. "Regular kismet."''I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that would be all right."'Tm not really in a talking mood right now.""Maybe you could just listen, then?""You're a cop, right? They never take no for an answer. I've noticed that."'Tm Detective Angela Dodson." She drew her LAPD badge from under her sweater."Please?""Always a catch…"She stayed in the doorway. Ran her fingers curiously over the carvings on the inside of thedoor frame. They were warding sigils that kept out only a few specific evil spirits. "My sisterwas murdered yesterday.""Sorry to hear."Their eyes met. Constantine found her gaze painful to hold. And there was something elseabout it too....He had to look away."She was a patient at Ravenscar," Angela said. "Mental hygiene wing. She jumped off theroof.""I thought you said she was murdered."Her hands fisted. "Isabel wouldn't take her own life."Constantine snorted and said dryly, "What kind of mental patient kills herself? That's justcrazy."She looked at his bed. "She didn't sleep in a cage," she said between clenched teeth - and for amoment looked as if she was ready to cross the room and belt him. He could see her reassert selfcontrol."Look, I know I'm not making much sense - I'm not even really sure what I'm doinghere. I just... I've heard your name around the precinct. The circles you travel in. The occult,demonology. Exorcisms. And... there were other indications you might be... someone I shouldtalk to."Constantine looked back at the spider under the glass. Was it dead? If it wasn't, it would besoon. It was trapped."Before she was committed," Angela went on, "Isabel kept talking about things. Aboutangels. Demons. I believe someone may have gotten to her, Mr. Constantine. Brainwashed herinto stepping off that roof. Some kind of secret society or... religious cult.""Sounds like a theory." He got up, walked unsteadily toward her. He saw her drop a hand toher side, a little behind, where her gun was. "Good luck."He walked up to face her, but had to put a hand on the door frame to steady himself. He waspoised to close the door in her face, but he didn't want to do that unless he had to."I thought with your background," she said, "you could at least point me in the rightdirection.""Yeah, okay," he said. "Sure." Not liking himself much, and not caring that he didn't like