"You're curious, aren't you?" I asked instead. I sensed his surprise, and a hint of nervousness. "Do you want to know how it works? After all, no one in history has ever been able to look into the past the way we do."
"What do you do?" He tried to cover his uneasiness but it seeped out, like the perspiration visible on his brow. It was then I came to realize he killed in the dark, not face to face with his victim. I vowed to not turn my back to him. If he murdered me, he would have to look me in the eye when he did it.
"Let me tell you in detail," I said. "But first, allow me to congratulate you. You displayed brilliance in discovering our identity." I was amazed at his reaction to a simple compliment. This was a truly vain individual. I pressed forward. "Do you realize how many thousands of people tried to find us? Think of it; a one million dollar reward was offered and yet no one was successful but you."
My tormentor slipped back into his silly pretentious way of speaking. "It is gratifying my dear, that you are sufficiently astute to recognize my skill and superiority."
"Please," I said. "The honor is mine.
"In spite of the obviously trying circumstances, it's enlightening to entertain a guest who possesses some modicum of intelligence and civility."
"I'm sorry if I seem in awe but might you tell me how you came to so genius a conclusion?" I crossed my fingers, hoping my mocking his speech would remain undetected.
"Unfortunately, you were far more careless calling your tip line and a telephone code was noted and remembered by the operator. She also heard the cry of an infant baby. I cleverly deduced the location, checked birth dates and newly arrived individuals. The rest was accomplished by stealthy observation."
"You're a truly remarkable man. You set your goal and accomplished it. I imagine you decided early on that anyone who possess this ability has unbounded power at their disposal and you decided to seize it." I could tell by the look on his face, he'd had no such thought.
"Now, please, without further ado, explain," he said, in an attempt to control the conversation.
I tried to appear resigned to defeat. "One of us discovered this ability last fall, quite by accident. It takes two of us and an electronic apparatus to create the dream-like trance that lets one of us see episodes from the past. It's difficult attaining this state but it is unbelievably clear once accomplished."
He wasn't certain he believed me but he was definitely curious. I continued. "You can't imagine the thrill of being there, in the past, and watching totally undetected, anything you want to see!" I tried to set the hook. "You could be there, for any events in your past."