Atop high, inaccessible development, escapee secretly takes cover (5)
I believe the answer is:
hides
'takes cover' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'atop high inaccessible development escapee secretly' is the wordplay.
'atop' becomes 'h' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'high' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'highest of' mean this (top letter - down clues only)).
The initial letters of 'inaccessible development escapee secretly' is 'ides'.
'h'+'ides'='HIDES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hides that I've seen before include "screens" , "Pelts" , "Dressed skins of animals" , "coats" , "Cloaks" .)