Crossword Genius

Investigator, note, heading for court (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tec

'investigator' is the definition.
(short for 'detective')

'note heading for court' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'te' (**).
'heading for' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'court' is 'c'.
'te'+'c'=''TEC'

(Other definitions for tec that I've seen before include "Busy" , "Investigator" , "Detective (colloq.)" , "CID officer (abbrev.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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