Before the code was cracked, in the story (8)
I believe the answer is:
anecdote
'story' is the definition.
(an amusing or interesting story)
'before the code was cracked' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'before' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
an anagram of 'code' is 'cdoe' which is within the remaining letters.
The remaining letters 'an' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'in the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for anecdote that I've seen before include "Brief tale" , "Brief story" , "Short amusing tale" , "Yarn" , "Short entertaining story" .)