Why would Vinny be interested in making the HOTs choose sides (DIK or ALPHA)? He's not in college anymore.
Unlikely Vinny would be looking in a bookshelf for the black box. No he wanted the DIK laptop because that is probably connected to the camera(s) because it recorded or would record something during the party.
What's weird is the power outage. That's because it's before Vinny gets to the DIK Mansion and Vinny had no way of knowing that there was a power outage. That's why he wanted to get to the laptop to get rid of evidence so he could be in the mansion.
But why the bookshelf? I don't think Vinny was looking for anything, but left something behind.
Ashley probably plays a role in that she goes back to Derek because Anthony definitely fucked Arieth. Who knows who the father will be. On my run through (MJ) I don't know.