Spy departs without initial fall (9)

I believe the answer is:

eavesdrop

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'spy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'initial fall' is the wordplay.
'initial' becomes 'eaves' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'fall' becomes 'drop' (synonyms).
'eaves'+'drop'='EAVESDROP'

'departs without' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eavesdrop that I've seen before include "Listen to bug" , "Snoop" , "Deprave so to listen secretly" , "Listen to others' conversation" , "Listen at windows" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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