Vinny the Diamond - a prequel

For the original Vinny the Diamond story please click here


Vinny puffed out his chest, it always made him proud when his boss picked him for an important job and this was a biggy. He’d been chosen to escort the Big D, and the Big D was a big man, a big man who was apparently in town to do a big deal. A couple of million Euro would change hands over the next few days and Vinny would be the Big D’s bodyguard.

Vinny had been given strict instructions, he was only to speak if he was spoken to and for those three days he was to do anything the Big D asked of him. He would be at his beck and call. His boss made it clear he should be on his best behaviour, no messing around with the girls, no taking his eye of the ball.

Vinny had been disappointed as soon as he set eyes on the Big D. He was a strange fruit. He ambled through the airport almost apologetically. He didn’t look like a ‘businessman’ or a ‘tough’, to be honest he looked more like a teacher than a gangster. Vinny wondered how he commanded respect in meetings, he just didn’t seem to carry any weight, any presence any je ne sais que. Vinny didn’t like him. They drove in silence, Vinny only too happy to respect the boss’s wishes. The Big D seemed lost in his thoughts, miles away from the world while conversely Vinny was all eyes, assessing the situation, assessing the threats but there were none. He was beginning to think that this guy’s importance had been exaggerated. Not so much Big D as a lowercase d. Were there really million dollar deals going down or was this guy a fraud?

The days were long and boring, the Big D rode in silence, went to meetings, clutching his briefcase, came out clutching his briefcase. Vinny watched, observed, waited and drove, getting more and more convinced that this man was more a phoney than a hotshot diamond dealer. Vinny had offered him girls, theatre tickets, champagne but the Big D had waved him away.

On the last day the Big D had a meeting with Vinny’s boss. Vinny sat and waited in the outer office. The boss’s other two drivers were there but no words were exchanged.

Meeting over the boss and the Big D came out all smiles, all handshakes and backslaps. The boss asked the Big D to wait in the office while he had a quick word with Vinny. 

Vinny entered an office that was still thick with cigar smoke, a half empty whisky bottle and two glasses sat on the desk.  He sat down opposite his boss wondering if he was in trouble. He’d kept his eyes on the ball, kept his fingers away from the girls. The boss looked at him for a second, Vinny recognised the look, knew what would come next.

‘Take care of him Vinny. You can keep the case.’ The voice was barely audible but the message was clear.

Vinny nodded and left the office, challenge issued, challenge accepted. He understood now why he’d been chosen to play chaperone.

For Vinny, making people disappear was a way of life. he had no qualms, had no worries, he didn't give it a second thought. The Big D was so lost in his own importance he didn’t notice the detour Vinny was taking until it was too late.

‘Where the hell are we?’ Vinny could hear the irritation in his voice, ‘I’ve a flight to catch.’

Vinny shrugged, ‘I’m just taking in care of you in the way my boss told me.’ Vinny’s words were simple but his voice was cold. The Big D knew then he was a dead man.

Vinny opened the case and could not believe his eyes, there must have been 20 diamonds in a small bag and maybe a million euros. This guy really was the Big D. Surely his boss could not have know what was in the case - he’d never offered him that much for a job before. Or maybe it was a test, a test of character, would Vinny go back to the boss and tell him exactly how much was there?

Vinny made a decision. He would give the case to his boss but not before dipping his beak first.

At his flat he opened the safe and deposited a large bundle of money and 5 diamonds. Then he headed to see his boss.

His boss received him with a smile. The cigar smoke had cleared and the office aired. The whisky glasses cleaned away. Vinny told him about the contents of the case and handed it over.  His boss smiled. ‘You’ve pleased me Vinny, you’ve pleased me,’ he said almost paternally. He opened the case and gave Vinny some diamonds and a wad of cash.

Vinny had been nervous, he’d been worried that the boss would notice the content wasn’t all it should be. But he needed have worried, the senile old bird hadn’t noticed a thing. Maybe Vinny could start creaming off a bit more, maybe it was time to start a little business of his own. It was certainly food for thought; after all Vinny the Diamond was an expert at getting away with murder.