Work Text:
Reuben "Ruby" Pepper, Ivy's father, had a hand in Atlas' death.
Despite that there is no evidence, nor any sign of him there is no other explanation to how Atlas died, it may be apparent that Asa Sweet may be an obvious suspect given to the close ties he and Atlas had as associates. Asa and Atlas may have been on friendly terms, but both were involved in underworld activities.
Their rivalry was present regardless of Atlas's involvement or his abscence, the narrative is mainly focused on procuring alcohol for the Lackadaisy speakeasy, the members of the speakeasy themselves, and the Marigold Gang as a whole.
The current rumrunners consist of Roark "Rocky" Rickaby, his cousin Calvin "Freckle" McMurray, and Ivy Pepper to collect the goods in opposition to Mordecai Heller and the Savoy siblings, Nicodeme and Seraphine.
Mordecai only sided with the Marigold Gang to investigate the murder linked to Atlas's death. The only reason Mordecai hadn't shot Ivy is that Ivy was Atlas's goddaughter. Mitzi and Mordecai were loyal to Atlas, despite that Mitzi was separated before becoming a widow, but she still loved him; Mordecai was loyal to Atlas and wouldn't commit treason by taking the life of his boss despite that he had killed others as a triggerman. They were both fond of him, even Viktor respected Atlas and wouldn't have betrayed him.
Atlas had very few friends, and one of them was Ruby Pepper. There is little to no information about Ruby Pepper other than the fact that he assisted Atlas in providing information about the routes where the alcohol is transported.
Where was Ruby when Atlas died? Weren't he and Atlas friends? Didn't they have a tight-knit relationship? Ivy visiting the speakeasy is proof that Ruby and Atlas were close at one point. Ivy knew Atlas, Viktor and Mordecai since she was a child.
She grew up in the world of mobsters, rumrunners and triggermen.
In Ivy's dream, she was a child holding the hand of Mordecai and Viktor. The dream she had was vague but it was a foreshadowing of what would come. The tree in her dream could be related to many things, personal growth, development, family ties.
Does the word family tree ring any bells?
Ivy turned away from Mordecai and Viktor when they were staring at the tree and then she walked up to Freckle and Rocky who uncovered a grave full of bones and bottles.
Rocky had a golden gaping wound on his forehead, his head injury was recent though it could indicate a foreshadowing of him discovering a secret that would lead him to his grave. Freckle sat next to him as he watched Rocky reach in to the grave.
The secret could be Ruby being the mastermind behind Atlas' death and Rocky discovering that secret would be either two things: Rocky would get brushed off as a madman or get shot by Ruby himself.
As far-fetched as the idea may seem, it's possible. Let's suppose that Ruby Pepper was present in Atlas' affairs since he knew the ins-and-outs of the operation.
Ruby Pepper was present when both Mordecai and Viktor were recruited to Lackadaisy and the establishment's foundation. Ruby had been friends with Atlas long before the Little Daisy Café and the Lackadaisy were founded and long before Mitzi came into the fray along with Zib and the rest of the musicians.
Mordecai knew Ruby Pepper and refrained from shooting Ivy out of loyalty and respect for Atlas. The reason that no one, not even Mitzi nor Mordecai suspect of Ruby Pepper because he was simply forgotten.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Atlas lived; Ruby was present.
Atlas died; Ruby was long gone.
And his sudden evanescence after the events of Atlas' demise is quite suspicious, very suspicious indeed.
No one, absolutely no one bothered to bring that up.
Ivy hangs around with her friends at her school, works part-time at Little Daisy Café, even hanging with Freckle and Rocky and the rest of the crew at Lackadaisy during the evening, but she hardly mentions her father at all. Does Ivy have an estranged relationship with her father? Who knows?
But at least Viktor acts like an overprotective father figure to some extent. Though Ivy's father is quite a mysterious fellow.
The real question is: where is Ruby Pepper?