It was a quiet afternoon at the city south police station and constable Hugh Collins was holding the mail that had just arrived "there's a letter here for you sir" Hugh said as he handed the letter to his boss Inspector Jack Robinson . "Thank you Constable Collins" Jack said as he used a letter opener while Hugh returned to his post , Jack read the following ( Dear Mr. Robinson we regret to inform you that your brother Edwin Robinson and his wife Sara Robinson have perished in an automobile accident leaving their daughter Elizabeth Robinson, as it states in your late brothers last will and testament you are young Miss Robinsons next of kin therefore custody of her has now been given to you . She will arrive in Melbourne on Tuesday of next week at 2pm at Flanders street railway station sincerely the law offices of Davis, Cohen, and Davis of New York New York).
After re reading the letter several times Jack fall back in his chair and sighed he couldn't believe that his little brother and sister in law were dead leaving him with his niece whom he hasn't seen since she was a baby before Eddy and Sara moved to the states when little lizzie was only a few months old now she was leaving everything that she has ever known after losing her parents at such a young age he could only imagine the pain that his niece was going though. Then Jack looked at the envelope and saw that it was postmarked a week ago he then checked the calendar that was hanging in his office and saw that it was Tuesday then he glanced at the clock to see that it was one thirty . He grabbed his hat and coat before rushing out of his office and sped off towards the Railway station (meanwhile at the Train station) A nine year old girl with long brown hair wearing a long sleeve pink sailor dress, white tights , and white Mary Jane shoes holding a suit case in one hand a teddy bear in the other was sitting on a bench looking around the bustling Railway station for her Uncle she looked down at the photograph and then looked around but, he was no where to be found she started to get scared then she saw two men few feet away leaning on a taxi so, she walked over to them to see if they could help her find her uncle.
"Excuse me sirs I was wondering if you could help me" she said to the Men who looked at the young girl "what can we help you with little lady" one of them asked the girl "I'm looking for my uncle have you seen him" the young girl asked as she held up the photograph of her uncle who was holding her when she was a baby , the two men looked at the photo "holy smokes that's inspector Robinson" one of them said in shock "you're right Bert and he's smiling I almost didn't recognize him" the other man said before handing the picture back to the girl . "Sorry sweetie but we haven't seen your Uncle at least not today" Bert said while the young girl started to tear up and held her teddy bear tightly in her arms . Meanwhile Jack was searching for his niece he held the picture of her that was enclosed in the letter then he heard the sound of a young girl crying he scanned the area and saw Bert and Cecil trying to calm down a girl who was crying her eyes out he saw that the girl crying was his niece and he all but ran to her.
He approached the three of them "before you start blaming us we didn't make her cry" Bert said while jack just scooped up his niece in his arms who wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder "Shhh it's okay Elizabeth I've got you" Jack said trying to comfort his niece , Elizabeth pulled back "u-uncle Jack" Elizabeth asked with a sob "yes it's me" Jack replied "why did my Mommy and Daddy leave me uncle Jack don't they love me anymore" Elizabeth said as she sobbed harder in her uncles arms . "Elizabeth Meredith Robinson your parents loved you with all their hearts and don't you ever forget that but, they had to go heaven so, they left you with me and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to take the best care of you because I love you so much" Jack said with a few tears in his eyes. "I love you too uncle Jack" Elizabeth said as the two hugged Jack then let her down on the ground "I have an Idea let's go get some ice cream then I'm going to introduce you to a friend of mine do you like the sound of that" Jack said as he took his nieces suitcase out of her hand while Elizabeth nodded in response .
As the two walked away Elizabeth waved goodbye to Bert and Cecil who waved back a little while later after Jack and Elizabeth had their ice cream Jack's car pulled up at a fancy looking house that had Elizabeth staring in awe . The two of them got out of the car , they walked up to the door , Jack knocked on the door , and a man in a suit opened the door . "Hello Inspector Robinson" The man said "hello Mister Butler" Jack replied "my who is this young lady" Mr. Butler asked as he noticed Elizabeth hiding behind Jack "This is my niece , be nice and say hello to Mr. Butler Elizabeth". "Hello sir" Elizabeth said as she ducked her head out from behind her uncle "is Miss Fisher in" Jack asked "yes she is please come in" Mr. Butler said as he let the two of them in "I will let Miss Fisher know that you two are here" Mr. Butler said before he walked away a few minutes later Miss Fishers right hand woman Dorothy Williams or Dot walked into the foyer.
"Oh hello Inspector Robinson" "hello Miss Williams" Dot then noticed Elizabeth who was still hiding behind her uncle "who is this Inspector Robinson" "this is my niece Elizabeth ,sweetie say hello to Miss Williams" "hello Miss" Elizabeth said in a shy voice as she got out behind her uncle . "Hello Jack" "hello Miss Fisher" "my who is this adorable little cutie" Miss Fisher said making Elizabeth blush "this is my niece Elizabeth, Elizabeth this is my friend Miss Fisher" "nice to meet you Miss Fisher" "you can call me Phryne if you want". "Lizzie why don't you go with Miss Williams while Miss Fisher and I talk" Elizabeth looked at her Uncle with trepidation "would you like to help me make some cookies sweetie" Dot asked Elizabeth who just nodded in response before taking Dot's hand and walked to the kitchen once the two of them were out of sight Phryne turned to Jack.
"So jack what do you want to talk about" Phryne said with a coy smile " I want to talk about Elizabeth" Jack replied "she's an adorable Poppet what about her" "she's not just visiting Miss Fisher she's just lost her parents a week ago in a automobile accident" "oh my god Jack that's terrible" "that's not all she's also been uprooted from the only place that she's called home and sent here to live with me , I haven't seen her since she was a baby before Eddy and Sara moved to the states". "Not to disregard any child rearing skills that you have Jack but, didn't she have any other Family in America that could've taken care of her" Phryne asked "no Sara's parents died when Elizabeth was four years old and Sara was the only child so, the only option was me" Jack replied . "If you need any help taking care of her Jack all you need to do is ask" Phryne said with a smile "thank you Miss Fisher I'll keep that in mind , could you possibly look after her until I'm finished with work I just ran out of the station with out telling constable Collins" "I'd love to Jack maybe her and Jane can become friends" Phryne said as she and Jack walked to the kitchen when they entered they saw Dot and Elizabeth both in aprons having fun while mixing a bowl of cookie dough the sight made Jack smile.
"Aren't you the little baker" Phryne said as she tickled Elizabeth which made her giggle . "Elizabeth I have to go back to work now but, I leaving you in the capable hands of Miss Fisher and Miss Williams until I come and pick you up so, be a good girl for them okay" Jack said while Elizabeth started to tear up again "please Uncle Jack please don't leave me too" Elizabeth said as she latched on to her uncle's waist . "Sweetie do you want to sit in a boring old police station or do you want to have fun with Dot and I" Phryne said trying to coax the young girl off of her Uncle which worked. "I promise I'll be back soon okay" Jack said before kissing his niece on her forehead which made her smile a bit, Jack left and when he was out of sight Elizabeth clung onto Phryne which took her by surprise but she hugged her back .