Crossword Genius

Spike left with fighter pilot (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lace

'spike' is the definition.
(I know that spike can be written as lace)

'left with fighter pilot' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'L' (common abbreviation).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'fighter pilot' becomes 'ace' (I've seen this before).
'l'+'ace'='LACE'

(Other definitions for lace that I've seen before include "Famous play ''Arsenic and Old . . . .''" , "Fine decorative fabric" , "Delicate material" , "Shoe string" , "Fine open fabric" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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