CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Masses of salt water around

motorway – lock sewer (10) 6 Stare at internet search engine,

losing energy (4)

9 Like a moneylender perhaps, before father almost gets caught with debts (10) 10 Genuine ceasefire, though not

constant (4)

12 Smooth limb before tattoo

oddly removed (6)

13 Showering after little time

exercising (8)

15 Sum up posture: worryingly

cocky (12)

18 Joined in with business deals,

initially (12)

21 Petrified with editor wanting

chapter to be brilliant (8) 22 Blow that is by king’s sword (6) 24 Just the first lady and Biden,

finally (4)

25 Standing way to the left of

Conservative radical (6,4) 26 Place for pigs by river (4) 27 Corrupt European is after

X-rated lick (10)

DOWN

1 Soft drink if you don’t mind –

just a half (6)

2 Exact retribution for raven

getting caught (6)

3 Aren’t car bits ordered?

I forget (12)

4 Help to support Republican

attack (4)

5 Reconcile this writer with a

large, satisfying feast (6,4) 7 Group of men heading for George Harrison leaving hotel (8)

8 Greene’s novel keeping one’s

fire up (8)

11 Gossip as flier let out story

about motorbike races (6-6) 14 Connected case to said

criminal (10)

16 Uninterested, having no

catalogue? (8)

17 Mark on church left by Yankee?

Not at all (8)

19 Is climbing before slip up on a

mountain range (6)

20 Marriage partner going round lake – something of interest to a groom? (6)

23 Payment by learner makes

sense (4)