Mayor Cobb

 It was a normal day in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Nothing abnormal ever happens in a town of 400 people.  A town with one traffic light, a post office, a city hall, and a few stores.
 Mrs. Franklin, the town postmistress, was sorting the morning mail.  She never had too much mail to handle, since all the mail usually went either to Mayor Cobb or Doc Mason.
 Mayor Cobb had been the mayor of Sheridan for 14 years.  No one really remembers where Mayor Cobb came from, because he just appeared in town one day, ran for mayor, and has been mayor ever since.
 Doc Mason was the town doctor and vet.  He was the richest man in town, but that distinction didn't mean very much, since no one had any money to pay him.  All the money that comes into Sheridan is the result of passers-through, since Sheridan depends on its gas station and restaurant for its income.
 The 10:39 freight train was right on time, this morning.  Mayor Cobb had called a council meeting for 11:00 to discuss the plans to build a motel to attract tourists.  Everyone was devoted to Mayor Cobb.  He was a stocky man with brown hair, but he was growing bald.  He had brought Sheridan together and relatively prosperous. 
 This particular day was slightly different, though.  A policeman came to Sheridan that day, in search of an escaped convict from the chain gang down the road.  Patrolman Nelson had never been to Sheridan.  He found the city hall and asked to see the chief of police.  There was no chief of police in Sheridan, since nothing bad ever happened.  So, Nelson had to see the mayor.
 The moment of the eyes meeting between Cobb and Nelson was somewhat shocking.  Nelson remembered this face on an old wanted poster.
 Yes, Mayor Cobb's real name was Charles Evans.  Fifteen years ago, Evans shot and killed a family of blacks in New York City.  Because of interstate flight, the FBI was called in.  It was just as Evans had simply vanished.  Now 15 years later, the patrolman recognized this man called Cobb to be Evans.
 The shocked stare cooled down.