Clean up quietly after an officer (3)
I believe the answer is:
mop
'clean up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'quietly after an officer' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'an officer' becomes 'mo' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'p' put after 'mo' is 'MOP'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mop that I've seen before include "Swab" , "Floor wiper" , "Wet cleaner" , "Floor cleaner" , "Tangle of hair" .)