The Octopus at the Vatican

# 4 - Vittorio and Nancy

1976 - the Vatican

Young banker Vittorio Petri, who had been working for two years at the IOR, the Institute for the Works of Religion, usually called the Vatican Bank, had recovered from a serious road traffic accident. His uncle, Albino Luciani, the Cardinal-bishop of Venice, had recommended him to the director Bishop Paul Marcinkus. Vittorio Petri knew finance, which he had dealt with in Switzerland, inside out. In particular, deals which were outside the bounds of legality. He climbed fast up the echelons and became one of the boss's assistants.

November 1976 - Maryland (USA)

Nancy Jones, professor of cryptography at Bern University, was seen by the director of encryption and the director of the NSA.

"Nancy, I am happy to see you back with us. Good flight?"

"Perfect, thank you. And what about you both, your families, are you all well?"

"Yes, thank you, both men replied. Your friend Vittorio has recovered, you said. Excellent news. Unfortunately, we don't have much time. Shall we start?"

"Of course."

"President-elect, Jimmy Carter, gave me a mission that we need to deal with straightaway, continued the director of the NSA. The exiting president Gerald Ford made his agreement. The President-Elect has received briefings on our allies, our antagonists and everything else. One thing caught his eye. It's the extent of connivance that might remain between the CIA and Cosa Nostra. We made the mistake, in 1943, to collaborate with the mafia to invade Sicily. As if we could not have managed on our own! Later, the fear of the reds persisted, increased because zones had been shared out at Yalta. Italy and Greece were in the zone under the West's influence. Unlike Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, etc. which were given over to the Soviet bloc. So, Stalin didn't support Greek, Portuguese or Italian communists. And we did nothing for democrats from the Eastern bloc. Everyone was his master at home. That is what Yalta was. But it was a secret."

The President-Elect wants to know whether our connivance, or as the case may be, our complicity, persists even today. Of course, total silence with the CIA. Because they are the ones Carter suspects.

"Thank you, Paul. What about me, though, asked Nancy?"

The encryption boss explained:

"We would like you to become the director of Rome. Its membership will increase. It will tune into the Italian state and the Vatican; its main representatives, politics, army, police force, financial affairs, episcopate and the mafiosi godfathers will be identified. It's 100% classified. Our allies need not be in the know, any more than the CIA; and neither does your boyfriend. "

"Depending on what we find, Carter will decide, explained the director. For now, he just wants to know. He doesn't want to be thrown any old stuff as with Kennedy, with the attack on Cuba at the Bay of Pigs."

"Fine, I agree, said Nancy. When? Why me? What's my cover?"

"It is now November 18. 1st December at the latest, would that suit you?"

"Yes."

"You, because it's you. And because you produced the latest backdoors on the coders of crypto AG. The Swiss firm has sold its machines to the Italians, in the public and in the private sectors. You will make a better sense of the machines and of the info. Especially since your colleagues mustn't know anything about the hidden doors. So, you will be very much alone."

"I'm used to this, it doesn't bother me."

"For your cover, you have just been appointed Professor of Cryptography at the University of Rome, a friendly exchange with Bern. You will have two hours' lecture per week and a few exams. No follow-on thesis. As for the mentorship, you will be well supported."

"May I live with my fellow?"

"Yes, you can even sleep together if you like, the director replied, not without humor."

"You have not forgotten the bodyguard jokes of your youth, Paul, it's very pleasing to see you still have your way with words!"

*

"Vittorio, darling, we are going to be able to live together again if you like. I have a job in Rome, hooray!"

"Wow, Fabulous, Nancy! The flat seems empty without you. When are you coming?"

"Very soon. Bern is letting me go. I am appointed in Rome. A similar post."

"Congratulations! Still a professor of Crypto?"

"Yes."

"Ordinary or extraordinary?"

"Ordinary. Its stable and allows me to continue with my research. This sector changes so quickly! If you don't pull out all the stops, you regress and become a has been in a year."

"Wonderful darling. When can we see each other?"

"If I move next week, will that do?"

"Perfetto. Big hug."

"Me too. And you? I forgot with my little self. How are you? And work?"

"Bene, I'll tell you all about it. Physically, I have recovered well. I take strenuous walks, I'm feeling good, I don't have any pain. Almost an odd sensation!"

"See you next week, I'll come by car. I'll let you know which day, so we can book a romantic table. In the Trastevere?"

"OK."