Really didn't like the way Desmond went to and fro with detective at centre (8)
I believe the answer is:
despised
'really didn't like' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'way desmond went to and fro with detective at centre' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'way' could be 's' (Compass direction - South) and 's' is located in the answer.
'detective' could be 'pi' (private eye) and 'pi' is found in the answer.
'desmond' could be 'des' (short for Desmond) and 'des' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ed' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for despised that I've seen before include "Detested" , "Had contempt or scorn for" , "Looked down on" , "Felt contempt for" , "Scorned" .)