Event where people talk, therefore spies left (6)
I believe the answer is:
social
'event' is the definition.
(social event is a kind of event)
'therefore spies left' is the wordplay.
'therefore' becomes 'so' ('so' can mean 'consequently' or 'therefore').
'spies' becomes 'CIA' (Central Intelligence Agency).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'so'+'cia'+'l'='SOCIAL'
'where people talk' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for social that I've seen before include "Gregarious; gathering" , "Gregarious; a party" , "Enjoying companionship" , "Relating to society" , "Pertaining to human relations" .)