True-life incidents make for exciting action in David Steece’s blistering story based on his own extraordinary experiences with the criminal mind, sexual exploitation, and corrupt politics. Paradox is filled with colorful, larger-than-life characters and interspersed with real-life documents from Steece’s criminal rap sheet, ownership of gambling casinos, and his late conversion to law enforcement.
Like the two faces of the Roman God Janus, David Steece’s Paradox portrays Blackie—Steece’s street name—as a connected gangster; a sociopath…nefarious, vindictive and egomaniacal. Then, conversely, it reveals him to be a true crime detective and a warm, humorous family guy; a doting father who adores his “angel” daughters.
The Story Begins:
The ringing phone broke the silence of the early morning. Blackie rolled over and picked it up on the third ring and said “Yeah”. Blackie, David Steece’s street name, was 6’3 and 235 pounds, his muscular upper body and wiry legs required that his clothes be custom altered in addition to the coat adjustment to hide the .44 Magnum that was always on his right hip. His natural dark complexion was copper colored from the southern sun, accenting his high cheek bones and making his distinctive black eyes menacingly that of a predator when angered. His nose had been broken a couple of times but, hell, Sicilian noses were big and crooked anyhow. He had a scar on the edge of his chin where a pistol sight had cut him in a fight. There was an indention over the right eyebrow where a shotgun pellet had dented the skull permanently. He had a three and a half inch scar on his throat from surgery. A knife fight had left him with a scar crossing the middle, ring, and little finger on the left hand. His natural body oils made his coal black hair seem even blacker than it was. After listening a minute, Blackie said, “Yeah, I have to go kick some coonass’s ass the Commissioner don’t like. I’ll call ya later.” He dressed in a black mohair suit, white on white shirt with diamond stud cuff links, white on white tie, gold nugget bracelet on one wrist, his Rolex on the other. A three stoned diamond pinkie ring and black alligator shoes, the standard dress for his image. He strapped on his ankle gun, put his pet .44 Magnum on his hip. He kissed his three sleeping girls good-by, turned them over to his trusted girlfriend, and jumped into the Commissioner’s white Buick.
He pulled off the interstate into the fertilizer companies parking lot, parked and walked into the office. Blackie went in the front door and saw a blond, thirty-fivish, sitting at the reception desk. He told her “The Commissioner called, Lefty’s expecting me.”
Blackie surveyed the reception office as the secretary disappeared into the private office. She reappeared almost instantaneously and held the door open for Blackie to enter. He strode inside pulling the door closed behind him. It was a large, expensively furnished office with sofas on two walls, a bookcase with a TV on the other, and two high wing back chairs in front of a huge mahogany desk. He crossed the room as Lefty stood up from behind the desk and came to meet him. Lefty was a late forty’s kind of a squat ruddy-faced man, obviously of French descent. The mousy brown hair had receded enough to leave a round shiny spot. He was dressed in a white open-collar shirt, slacks, and cowboy boots.
As they shook hands, Blackie said, “The Commissioner told me you have a name and address of someone who’s having a mouth problem.” Lefty picked up a small piece of paper off his desk and handed it to Blackie. It had a name and address, apartment number, a car model, make, color and license number. He glanced at the paper and asked, “Can you give me a physical?” Lefty responded with a nod. “He’s about 6’ 190 pounds, dark hair, and a smart ass.”
“Does he live alone?”
“I guess he does unless he has some one-night stand.”
“Does he carry?”
“I don’t believe.”
“Okay. The commissioner appreciates this, ya hear. He’ll be in touch with ya.”
They shook hands and Blackie left. As Blackie walked back through the reception office and thanked the blond, he wondered if she was any good when she was twenty. Cellulite, bleach and too much make-up had taken its toll, and he figured if you unsnapped her bra and skirt at the same time, she’d roll out like a broken dam in all directions.
Blackie turned into the apartment parking lot, he wished he wasn’t in the commissioner’s white Buick. It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull, and he didn’t need that. He parked, and went to check the mail boxes for the dude with the bad mouth. No mail in his box, which meant he was either already home or he didn’t know anybody who knew how to write. Blackie walked through the apartment complex and by the window of the dude’s apartment, but he couldn’t see anything. Damn! Why weren’t these ass holes more cooperative? Bad mouth could just come outside so Blackie could kick his ass and get it over with. He went back to the Buick and found a parking place with a better view and waited. After a little while, his luck turned. The dude’s door opened and he came out. Blackie got out of the car with a piece of paper in his hand, approached the man, and asked him for some dumb name. The dude said he never heard of him and as he turned away, Blackie drove a hard right shot into his left kidney that doubled him over. Blackie spun him around and drove another into the pit of his stomach, and out came the rest of his wind and most of his last meal.. It’s hard to yell with your wind knocked out. But just in case, Blackie put his left hand behind the dude’s head, and right hand over his mouth and drove his knee up between his legs and the dude lurched and slumped to the ground. Blackie bent over him and snapped the switchblade open and pressed it against his neck.
Speaking quietly, Blackie asked, “Hey asshole, you ever try to talk with your throat cut? Cause if you make one peep, that’s what’s gonna happen, Got it?”
Fear was shining in his eyes as he nodded. Blackie raised up and looked between the parked cars. Even though it had only been a few seconds and almost no sounds, you could never be too careful. Leaning back over the dude, Blackie said, “Listen to me good boy, cause I’m only gonna say this once. You gotta bad mouth. Someone I know don’t like it over in Baton Rouge. You think you’re a bad ass but you’re just an asshole. You say one more word on that radio station you work for or anywhere else and when you least expect it….poof! You’re gonna disappear. Now I know after I’m gone you’re gonna think about this and figure I got lucky this time. You think that the police, or the feds, or that somebody else will protect you. You’ll get big and bad again with that bad mouth. But while you’re thinking, remember how well they protected Jimmy Hoffa, and how quick they caught the guys who did him in. And they had a lot of people lookin’ for him. An asshole like you, the fuzz will stop after a couple of days. Even if my man goes to jail, or gets hit by a car, or is unlucky and lightening strikes him, you’re still gone, see, cause I already got my bread and I got a reputation to keep. I’m gonna go now. Don’t move until you hear the car drive away, and after I’m gone, you can get up, go tell the apartment manager you fell down in the parking lot and sue ‘um, and your night won’t be all bad after all. Be seein’ ya.”
With that, Blackie closed the knife and left. He drove straight back to his county hideout outside of Hammond, wanting to get there before the girls went to bed.
As he sped along the interstate he thought about his daughter Teri, and how quickly she had grown to be a beautiful young lady. His ‘little princess’ with the enchanting almond shaped brown eyes was already in college – time does fly! Bitsie, his angel, away at a private school in New Orleans now. Even though she was adopted, she was so much like him you would have thought he spit her out. Coal black hair, passionate, big brown eyes, always filled with love and happiness at the sight of him.
Lu, his heart, was just a year younger, and didn’t have that same black hair but she had even bigger brown eyes. She followed him around constantly with a total admiration, sort of a female Dennis the Menace, but definitely a Daddy’s girl.
Alley, his eyes, was just starting school and was awed by her ability to suddenly pronounce words on highway signs as she began to learn to read. She was the one that most people said was the ‘apple of his eye.’ And she definitely had his black expression-filled eyes.
Rae, his love, the baby, was still into pushing her doll around in the carriage and had almost perfect features like her mother. Copper colored complexion like daddy but she had her mother’s petite build and soft warm quality. Not loud like the others, he wondered where they get all the loudness from, chuckling to himself.
He wondered if he’d ever find a woman who could love him and his girls, so they could all live some semblance of a normal life.
Blackie, o thank you for the pix. it did get sent to my email. hope to see you n ur wife @ the fair. look forward to gettin a couple more books. Kami
Muchas Gracias Blackie…put our picture next to my book Scott
David,
Thanks for the picture I think your a pretty good Ole-boy really enjoyed meeting and talking with you if you would ever like to chat you have my email…..Take Care…..Buford
Good to meet you friend. Blessings to you – thank you for your transparency. Be safe. Pastor Robert
thank you very much. i am thoroughly enjoying the book. Sherri
David:
It was really nice to meet you and your wife on a chance encounter at Hastings wednesday evening. I had just stopped in to get new music for the long drive back home and I heard your voice and something struck me to go check it out.
Your book is really interesting – I started reading when I got home that evening. I’m a pretty fast reader, but I’m not done yet.
I wish you and your family the best!
Sincerely,
Julia Cox
Graham, Texas
Well Thank you David, it was such a pleasure meeting you, I have been captivated by your book since we got home, my husband said he wanted to read it next, I Might let him, Lol!! No seriously, I really enjoyed meeting you, it was truly a pleasure, you intrigued me, take care of yourself and your family and be safe always!!! God Bless!
Dear Mr. Steece,
Thank you for the picture. It was a true pleasure meeting you at the show Sunday. I had a feeling the book would be great (I was right 🙂 I have completed 6 chapters thus far and look forward to reading the rest this week. When you began to speak, I asked you where you were from as I had a feeling about that as well. It seems we have something in common- my family is from Sicily too. Anyway, I believe your book will sell well and look forward to the movie also. God bless you and your family.
Warm Regards,
Lisa (Lampasona) Hayden
Love the picture thank you so much. I have started to read the book and it is so fascinating. Thanks again.
Julie
Wow! I’ve only gotten thru the first page and I’m already hooked. I have so many questions I want to ask. I can’t wait to finish this and start reading more from you. You are a fantastic author. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Lisa Holsworth
It was an honor meeting you as well….I think the pic is great!
Jeremy started ready your book as soon as we got home and I started it
this morning….I knew I should have bought 2 books! I am so glad
your friends and family finally pushed you to finishing this
book…..it was a very long time ” in the making” ….. I hope a movie
is in the future! Thanks again for getting my attention
yesterday….how many people can honestly say they met the author
…..and he took the time to tell you a little about himself and the
book he personally signed for you? I can 🙂
Risa
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
Hello …this is Risa Dalton. I met David at the slidell gun show this weekend and purchased an amazing story 🙂 what I regret is not getting one for my boyfriend Jeremy who will not put my book down! I just ordered him one thru the website and asked if David could please sign the book for Jeremy. He will be so surprised to get his own copy signed by ” Blackie” ! He says its the best book he has ever read! Please let me know if this will be possible, and if there will be any additional fee.
Paradox has become the new ” coffee table” book in our house… 🙂
Risa
Dear Mr. Steece,
My name is Justin Bratton and I bought your book on June 18th at the Harps store in Mountain Home, Arkansas. I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading your next one. Take care and God Bless.
Sincerely,
Justin Bratton
I just finished reading the book, all I can say is “wow!”, great read, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
GOOD LUCK!!!!! TELL EVERYONE… MARGIE SAYS EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!! MARGIE
Great book so far couldn’t out it down,,, enjoyed the book siging at the Jerry Lawrence Memorial Library in D’Ibeville, Ms.,!
Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you I finally have found time to start reading your book.
I cant put it down it is an excellent story and hopefully will be made into a movie one day.
thanks for autographing my book let me know when the next book comes out.
Thanks
Renato Contipelli
Cuyahoga Heights,Ohio
Now I know the rest of the story. As a teen in Metairie and a friend of Blackie’s daughter, Mr. Steece was a private investigator that lived behind us. I came across his webpage and book had to get in touch with him to order it. I soon as I received it, I started reading and couldn’t put it down. This is an outstanding and captivating story of the man that has many contrasting facets to his life and a must read book for those who want to read about a man that literally has nine lives. I’m glad he’s my friend and we have gotten back in touch after 40 years. Thanks again for the inscription, keep in touch … Well done!
Subject: RE: LIBRARY BOOK SIGNINGS
From: “Pascal Calogero”
Date: Mon, April 18, 2011 10:08 am
To:
David,
I hope you have great success in your sales. You deserve to have a best seller, I have read most of my book, Now I will surely finish it,
Your good friend,
Pascal
Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.
Chief Justice of Louisiana Supreme Court (Retired)
From: Steve Thornton
Date: Sun, April 17, 2011 9:27 pm
To: david@davidsteece.com
Dave,
I just got through with the book. Outstanding job! I really enjoyed it. That was interesting reading and brought a few things to light for me. With the girls, you had your hands full balancing a couple of lives.
The book really gave an exciting account of your life. It was quite interesting the politics and officials in office back then.
I really appreciate the inscription that you wrote. I showed my kids the book and was telling them about growing up in Metairie. Those were fun years.
Hope you are healthy and keeping busy with the book! Wow what a book!
Take Care,
Steve Thornton
Blackie
Great Book loved reading it, Make into a movie. It would be a big winner.
Arrie
First book I have read in twenty years that wasn’t a western. Great book, action packed, a real attention holder from front to back. Glad to have you as a friend, Blackie!
My hubby and I arrived here simply because this internet site was tweeted by a chap I had been following and i’m extremely pleased I made it here.
From Author, Amanda Suddeth to David Steece “I finished reading your book. It was incredible. I could not put it down. You’ve inspired me! What a man you are, LOL, I wasn’t sure if I should like you or hate you throughout the book! Excellent read. I am honored to have met you.”
Congratulations on your new found talent. I am looking forward to reading the book. Arthur
Mr. Steece,
It was great to meet you, just finished paradox what an interesting read.
Thank You for your service.
Semper Fi
Glen Patteson
Dad,
Major congrats on the book release! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Shan and I both think the shirts look great too! I can’t believe you finally did it. Give me a call some time.
Love,
David
Dear Mr. Steece,
This is just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed your book that I got yesterday in Bay City. I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole book and it was fantastic. I am looking forward to the movie.
I know you were in New Orleans a lot and was wondering if you ever met Delessups Morrison – he was Mayor of New Orleans during the 50’s and early 60’s I think. I went to school at Allen Military Academy in Bryan,Texas with his son in 1961 and 1962 and I remember him coming to school functions with a LA State Police escort in 1962.
I sure hope you write another book as I enjoyed reading Paradox so much. I think another one about your experiences in the Marines would be great or of some of your other exploits. Again, I would like to say how much I enjoyed our visit in Bay City. I only wish I had more time to visit with you when you were here.
Tom Drisdale
You are brave to open up to the kind of life you have had.
I can see, fearlessness is part of your character.
No way could you have had the kind of life you lived and lacked guts.
Good luck with your new adventure as an author. It also takes guts.
I look forward to reading it.
Who is David Steece, really? Ex-gangster, lawman, loyal friend, lascivious womanizer, doting father, Renaissance guy, apt politician, smart detective? What? It’s a “Paradox”. Read the book and draw your own conclusions.
Hey cuz! its me JIMI Z. I visited your books web site, when the book comes out send me a autographed copy, look forward to hearing from you! GOOD LUCK on your book. I tell every one about you. I’m proud to know you, and I’d love seeing you. let me know. Later Bro!
Hi ,
I read the excerpt from your book and browsed your web site and can’t wait to get a copy of your new book. Looks good and great work for a young man!
Louis
You are a great person and people in Lakeview will always remember you, when are you going to become a Mayor – it would of been great. When does your book come out? Are you going to have a signing? Lots of questions looking forward to the book. I’m or I should say we are not the only ones others are as well.Give us any info on your book, and where can I get your book all that good stuff. . Katie & Charles Prefume
Hello David,
Really enjoyed the sneak peek…can’t wait to see the finished book. My kind of story! My travels in work are throughout Southeast LA, and MS. There are lots of real stories to be told, and I am sure you have more to say about your journeys. I will be honored to scatter your book among my contacts and recommend it. Good luck, and I look forward to seeing you at a book signing!
THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Suzanne Kirby
Account Executive
I checked out the Paradox web site. It looks very professional from the very first glance all the way thru the drop down menus and links.
The “bait” sample of your book is very interesting, it immediately gets your attention, it makes you want to continue reading, and of course it makes you wonder how the book ends. Which begs the question, how does Blackie’s story end?
The book is a success; that is a given. However, the final chapter of Blackie’s life has not been written yet. The story can take an unexpected turn as Blackie fights one last fight. It is the good fight, and he wins once again.
God bless you, your book, and your family.
Stacy
Dave, Got it and read it. It’s good—-real good. I had no idea you were a talented writer. All these years I thought your only talent was rearranging knee caps. Congratulations on your new found talent. I am looking forward to reading the book. Arthur
Wow, can’t wait to read the rest of the book. I am looking foward to it, when will it be out in a hardback copy?
I plan on posting this website on my facebook page for all of boys to read. I know they will enjoy this, some of them are still trying to play the role of Blackie today.
Most tough guys are conceptualized and written about by guys that in real life are little more than book worms or kids that got beat up in school and are looking for a window to express their inner demons. David Steeces’ book “Paradox” is written by a hard nosed former marine that served his country both internationally in the Corps and nationally in a major metropolitan law enforcement agency. Is it worth reading? Absolutely; for two reasons. First, It will be street level accurate from a man who has been there and understands the nuances of the “Blue” mindset and its counterpart – the thug mentality. Secondly because the writer is every bit as hard as the characters in his book and he may hunt you down if you don’t. I am ordering mine ASAP.
Can’t wait to read the whole book seems like it is going to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Great story look forward to reading the book, proud to say we’ve been friends for years.
Thank’s and GOD BLESS
Buzz/ Marie/ Laura
Wow now I am ready to read! But while you’re thinking, remember how well they protected Jimmy Hoffa, and how quick they caught the guys who did him in. You just can’t make that up!
Peace
So the story behind the man is finally coming after all these years. Can’t wait to read it. Hope everything is great for you.
Never a dull moment with you – can’t wait to read them all. This is like “the rest of the story” since I only know the last part. Hurry up and get this thing on the shelf!!
I liked the taste,now bring on the main course,(Book)I’m hungry for it
Wow! What a story. Can’t wait until the movie hits the theaters. But who could play Blackie – but Blackie?
Heard about your book and had to look into it. I really think it will be great
Let me know when I can purchase it.
cant wait to read the rest of the book..looking foward to it..
Where can the book be purchased?
Love it so far!
Loved it….look forward to reading the book!