Those Ties That Bind

 Why are teenage mothers dying in the Garland Regional E.R. instead of delivering healthy babies for adoption at The Obstetrical Center? Something is seriously wrong. On her physician’s advice, Garland’s CEO Evelyn Langford reluctantly takes a long-scheduled vacation for her fiftieth birthday leaving her team to conduct an investigation into Obstetrical Center.

Evelyn’s efforts to investigate the problem are hampered by her complicated relationships with her secretive brother, Frank, her subordinates, and, surprisingly, FBI Special Agent Rance Thompson, a new acquaintance, who comes to the small town to investigate possible links between the childbirth deaths and a string of teenage girl disappearances.

Will Frank’s increasingly erratic behavior and the growing attraction between Evelyn and the younger agent further complicate discovering the truth about the dying girls?

Wild Women Authors is pleased to welcome back author Kim Janine Ligon and Those Ties That Bind, a novel of mystery, suspense, and a later in life romance, a current release out of the Wild Rose Press. With Kim today is FBI special agent Rance Thompson who will go first. 

Good morning, Agent Thompson. Thank you for spending time with us today. Let’s start with where you are from. I’ve lived my entire life in the Chicago area.

Tell us a bit about Those Ties That Bind. It is a story about how I accidentally met the “right” woman and we are thrown together on a case I was working on involving possible human trafficking of teenage girls in the small Wisconsin town where Evelyn Langford lives. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome for us to overcome—especially Evie’s brother, Frank, and her concern about the difference in our ages. The case involves adoptions, kidnapping, and a happy-ever-after.

What did you think the first time you saw Evelyn? She was walking on the beach talking on the phone. I thought she looked attractive, but she was clearly upset. She didn’t appreciate me asking if she needed help.

What was your second thought? When she smiled, she lit up the room and once I got past the barriers she put up as the prim and proper hospital CEO, she turned out to be a really fun person. Plus, she’s a terrific dancer.

So, in addition to those positive character traits—lighting up a room and the dancing skills—we mean, was it was love at first sight? No. I don’t really believe in that. I was surprised when I realized how attracted I was. We had a case to solve first so that had to take priority.

What do you like most about Evie? Her appreciation of family ties and concerns about keeping families together even when her brother is being abusive.

How would you describe her? Evelyn is all business, committed to the facility she directs, Garland Regional Medical Center, and trying to do the best for her patients and community. My Evie has a terrific sense of humor, is kind to everyone, is compassionate, and fun to be with. She moved back to Lansdale to care for her mom with no regard for the disruption in her personal life. She was almost immediately comfortable to be with and to talk to as if we’d known one another forever.

How would she describe you? Hard working. A dedicated dad. A good caregiver. A good dancer. Great sous chef. Protective of the people I love.  

What made you choose the FBI for a career? Originally, I thought my career would be in the military, but circumstances intervened, and plan B became the FBI. It’s been a great career and one that allowed me to be a single dad. I have always enjoyed solving complex puzzles and that’s exactly what a lot of my cases are—only with people instead of pieces.

What is your biggest fear? Losing the people I love.

How do you relax? I enjoy reading, the annual fishing trip with my buddies and our sons, dancing, playing pool or ping pong. Any activity with my son.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. I love seeing how his brain works.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? My grandfather was a carpenter. He told me, “Chose a career that is something you love to do because you will be doing it a very long time.” I still have some furniture pieces he created when he was in is nineties.  

This has been terrific, Chance. Thank you. Now, we’d like to chat with Kim.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? In junior high, I started on a binge to read every biography they had in the library. There was a whole series of blue covered books with red letters and the western pioneer figures like Davy Crockett were brown covered with red letters. I have always been fascinated by what made people become who they did. Was genetic or environmental or a reaction to circumstances? I think all that reading has helped me create my characters.  

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? I grew up in a small town (3,000 people) and I worked almost twenty years in a hospital so I drew on both of those experiences to put together Those Ties That Bind. And I am the oldest of ten children, three of whom my parents adopted.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? The Wild Rose Press was the perfect place for my stories to land and Dianne Rich who has been my editor for all four books is outstanding. I so appreciate what I have learned from her and her amazing guiding patience.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I read and enjoy all sorts of books by fellow Roses that I had no idea I’d like because they were in genres I didn’t normally read. My Kindle is bursting at the seams with TBRs. On my nightstand is Kristin Hannah’s “The Women.” It’s about nurses in the Vietnam War. I remember that time in history and even though it is fiction, I found the account true to the facts I knew. I read physical books before bed or I’d never be able to sleep.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I changed horses a little and have a Christmas in the Castle book coming out December 2^nd this year—Matchmaking, Mistletoe, and a Moat. I’m also started on another Lansdale mystery romance. There are some familiar faces from my other three books, but it is a standalone. I haven’t submitted it yet but hope to so it can come out in 2025. We’ll see how things go.

Kim brought along an excerpt from Those Ties That Bind:

Miss Langford buzzed Margie. “Please get the medical director at The Obstetrical Center on the line for me.”

“Hello.”

“Miss Langford, what do you want?” the physician snarled.

“Rose Rich’s paperwork doesn’t have any valid contact information. Her real name is probably not Rose Rich. We are coordinating with Chief Davis to check the National Runaway database to see if she is listed there.”

“Why are you going to all this trouble for someone you don’t even know? All you’re required to do is to send the body to the morgue and you’re done.” Did he snort?

“I can’t just dispose of her like garbage. If she was my child or my sister, I’d want to know what happened to her. I’d want an autopsy done to see why she died.”

“We already know why she died. Complications in childbirth. Why do you have to act as if this was a major crime or malfeasance? Women do still die in childbirth, despite all the advances in medical science. This isn’t an issue for the police. Garland Regional isn’t going to be blamed for her death.” He got louder with each word.

“You needn’t yell. I can hear you. The patient mumbled something to Dr. Merrick right before she died. She said ‘Doc, not me again, don’t. Please, I can’t. Please don’t.’ Does that make any sense to you?”

The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”

“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”

The physician hesitated a moment. “Why ask me? How would I know why a dying girl, who lied about who she was, said anything? She was probably delirious. Why do you think it has something to do with me?”

“She said not me again. I thought since she was your patient you might have some insight into her situation. Had she given birth at your center before?”

“How would I know off the top of my head? Hundreds of mothers have been through here. I haven’t memorized all their names, faces, and personal situations.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Chief Davis will get to the bottom of this.”

“There is nothing to get to the bottom of. I’ve reinstituted stricter protocols to trigger hospital transfers sooner for distressed patients. No need to pull in the local police or national resources. Let it go, okay?”

“It’s good to know that in the future mothers in danger will be transported to us sooner, but it’s too late to put the brakes on checking with the police. The wheels are already in motion. We’ve started the investigation,” the CEO said.

“I am putting this on the record. I won’t tolerate harassment of any kind. If you force my hand, you’ll regret it. I promise,” the physician said authoritatively.

“We both have to do what our professional ethics require. This is not personal. It has nothing to do with our relationship. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up. I expect you to do the same. Goodbye.” Miss Langford hung up.

To purchase Those Ties That Bind, go to: 

Universal Buy link: https://mybook.to/ThoseTiesThatBind or https://mybook.to/AllMyBooks

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213462499-those-ties-that-bind

Bookbub:

www.bookbub.com/books/those-ties-that-bind-by-kim-janine-ligon

To learn more about Kim Janine Ligon, go to:

Blog:  www.spinningromance.com

Email: kimjanine@spinningromance.com