16
Berwickshire stood in stark contrast to Edinburgh. The town exuded tranquility, with its narrow lanes and unhurried residents. It seemed as if time had stood still here, with quaint shops and snug houses lining the cobbled streets. I hoped this would be the ideal hideout.
The search for suspects had shifted to Edinburgh, with news reports suggesting the authorities were making progress. My departure from the city had been meticulously planned. Using one of my numerous false identities, I transformed into Ashley Burton, a person without a history. My computer science education wasn't just a certificate—it was my survival tool. Creating new personas, erasing digital footprints, and infiltrating systems had become second nature to me.
While newcomers were easily noticed in Berwickshire, I had selected it for its isolation. As I approached the town's outskirts, luggage in tow, I rehearsed my fabricated backstory.