Tower of Terror

Chapter II: New Year's Eve

"I'm sure you're all are, uh, excited about my new discovery, yes?" he said. The crowd of men nodded in agreement. Hightower stood up and took something from a tall pedestal next to his desk. Hightower was a tall man, but even he had to stand on his toes to reach the top of the pedestal. Hightower placed this object on his desk. It seemed to be really large, but not like a sarcophagus or the statue from Easter Island. The objects wasn't very wide. There appears to be something poking the cloth at the top of the object, something long.

"My expedition crew and I found this while we were hiking in the dense jungles of Africa" Hightower explained, "The tribe who sold this artifact to me said that it is an image of the god that they worship, an idol."

"It is said by the Chief of the tribe that this idol grants blessings and good luck to those who respect this idol. Saying this..."

Hightower pulled off the cover. Shiriki Utundu sits on the desk, its eyes closed. The crowd applauds. No one has ever seen anything like the idol. Hightower has indeed discovered something rare and valuable. Hightower bowed to the audience.

"Thank you," Hightower said, "I will now answer any question you may have, or a comment."

Hands shot into the air. Many reporter to choose from. Hightower selected a man with brown hair, and a fedora. 

"You," Hightower said, pointing at the man, "What question do you have for me?"

"Mr. Hightower, is it true that the idol is cursed?" The man asks. After he asked this, all the men looked at Hightower, most of them excited for an answer, some of them giving Hightower quesitoning looks. 

"Cursed?" Hightower laughed, "That's just foolish!" 

Everyone in the room laughed. As soon as the laughter died down, Hightower took more questions. The same man stood up without raising his hand. This upset Hightower.

"You again?" Hightower said, annoyed.

"Is it true that you stole this idol from its tribe?" The man asked.

"Eh?" Hightower croaked, "Er, no! I found it in destroyed village."

The man began asking questions. Some of them accusing him of stealing the idol and the rest of the artifacts he's owned. Hightower had had enough.

"That's it," Hightower yelled, "Please, show yourself out!"

The man stood up and walked out of the office, all eyes were on him until the doors closed.

"Shall we continue?" Hightower asked with a smile.

***

Strang was escorted out of the hotel by Smelding.

"I will apologize to Mr. Hightower for you, sir." Smelding said. 

"No need." Strang replied.

As soon as Strang was outside the front doors, Smelding returned inside the hotel. Strang walked back to his apartment, with only one thing to do.

***

The Dining Room, Hotel Hightower - 1:00 PM

"How was your expedition, Harrison?" Henry Mystic asked Hightower, sipping his tea.

"Tiring." Hightower replied, "I just got back this morning, and the press demanded a conference at once."

"How was it?" Samuel Dawson asked, taking a bite of his croissant.

"I had to kick out one reporter," Hightower said, "Asked too many questions."

"Well," Henry announced, "I think it's time to give Harrison a certificate for being the first in the Society to explore and retrieve an artifact in Africa!"