I see that Otellio realized the implications of pointing out Mr. D. in a crowded night club!
Otherwise, that’s an interesting twist. I have to wonder how stable Otellio’s business is. He built the Topaz several years back but he can’t have laid his greasy mitts on the Bête Noire until a few months ago. I also have to wonder why Mr. D. would keep his end of the bargain given that there’s no downside in screwing Otellio over.
Mr. D. wants the steady stream of income from Otellio, as all Bosses want to own people who generate income. The diamond is collateral so that Otellio keeps paying exorbitant rates. Additionally, who says that DiSibio will ever return the diamond no matter how much Otellio pays.
And thus the reason why I introduced the Bête Noire, a very useful phrase that coincidentally means “an anathema; someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence.” I suspect that “Noir” could have been titled “Despicable People.”
Fun stuff, and I applaud you and August for keeping the narrative moving and fresh and alive. Vinnie doesn’t seem to have very good odds here, does he?
You know, I’ve read everything from Standing Exposed to here so many times, in an attempt to work out where in the chronology to insert Lambone’s last two installments, that I’ve only now realised that I haven’t commented on any of it! Suffice to say this is very, very good stuff – sharply characterised all round and with an irresistible drive to the narrative. The scene of Otellio standing in the middle of the dining hall, pointing the finger at the city’s most notorious crime boss, is priceless.
August 2nd 
Drake West 
THX 0477 
JonB