Crossword Genius

Hires a spy to be devious? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pays

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hires' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with ownership as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'a spy to be devious?' is the wordplay.
'to be devious?' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'devious' mean this).
'a'+'spy'='aspy'
'aspy' is an anagram of 'PAYS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pays that I've seen before include "Gives money for work" , "Foots the bill" , "Remunerates" , "(13) [FRENCH] Country" , "Hollande's country" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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