I was a snore away from asleep listening to Motli drone on and on about Statements of Cash Flow and where they fit into the big picture, bibbity bobbity boo, when I heard the door squeak. The most shapely ankle I'd ever seen stepped into my office.

Motli was up and between us like a Doberman. "Excuse me, but do you have an appointment?"

"It's okay, Motli," I said. "Why don't you go...flow somewhere else?"

Motli stormed off in a huff and the woman closed the door behind her. "Mr. Diamond?" she asked. "My name is Christian. Evelyn Christian. I...I need your help. But...this is my first time with a private detective."

"I'll be gentle," I said. "Sit down, Miss Christian. What can I do for you?"

"I fear someone is trying to kill me, Mr. Diamond."

If someone was, she was awfully cool about it. "So why come to me? Why not talk to the fuzz?"

"Do you mean the police? I...did go them, Mr. Diamond, but they were less than interested. They said I had no evidence, so there was little they could do."

"Yeah, standard rap. Tell me, why would someone want to kill you?"

"I'm sure I wouldn't know. I'm the CEO of a very successful company. Techtek [TCTK]. We're a government contractor. Perhaps you've heard of us? No? Well, we've done quite well, mostly thanks to my..." She began to break down and sniffle. I offered her my handkerchief. She looked at it, wrinkled her nose, handed it back, then dug her own out of her silk purse. "I'm sorry....I meant thanks to my late husband. I took over after his...murder."

Geez, this family had no luck at all. "Your husband was murdered? By whom? For what?"

"That's what I want you to find out, Mr. Diamond. The police never solved the case...and now someone is after me. I've been receiving threatening messages, hang-ups...and I keep seeing this sinister fellow following me."

"Okay, lady, I'll take the case. But I have to warn you, good detectives don't come cheap. I'm gonna need...." She cut me off by throwing a huge wad of dead presidents on my desk, big as your head.

"Will that cover your expenses, Mr. Diamond?"

"Yep, that oughta do it. But you haven't really given me much to go on, Mrs. Christian."

She handed me a scrap of paper. "You might start there, Mr. Diamond. I found that among my husband's effects. I believe that is the address of his mistress. The police tell me she had nothing to do with it...but I don't believe that for a moment."

She said it calmly, too calmly. Like her husband's mistress was just another fact of life. Business people... "Okay, I'll check it out. Where can I get in touch with you?"

She handed me a card with her number on it. "By the way," she said, "I couldn't help but overhear what your secretary said just now. About Statements of Cash Flow. You should listen to her. Did she explain the three major components of the SCF?" I shook my head. "Maybe you should ask her. Call me, Mr. Diamond, when you have something for me."

I told her I would. As far as I knew, cash flowed in and flowed right back out. Sometimes I waved at it as it went by. "Motli!" I yelled. "Get in here!"

"Yes, Mr. Diamond?" Motli asked as she raced through the door.

"You didn't tell me there were three parts to that stupid cash flow thing!"

Help Motli clear things up for Ace... which of the following is NOT a major component of the Statement of Cash Flow?

1) Cash flow from operating activity

2) Cash flow from financing activity

3) Cash flow from accounting activity

4) Cash flow from investing activity

Our subject this week is the statement of cash flow (SCF). Its three major components are: cash flow from operating activity, from investing, and from financing. Every SCF will have these three components, in that order. Combined, they give a detailed look not only at how much cash the company is generating, but also at how much and exactly where the company is spending to expand its business.

As Motli explained it to me, I tried to wrap my head around it. It seemed simple enough so far.

I was also trying to sift through what Evelyn Christian had told me, and that seemed not so simple. I didn't at all mind, though -- the wad of cabbage she'd tossed at me made it all seem worthwhile. She'd given me an address to start with, and I went out the door.

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