The parcel was left in a container (4)
I believe the answer is:
plot
'the parcel' is the definition.
(plot is a kind of parcel)
'left in a container' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'a container' becomes 'pot' (pot is a kind of container).
'l' put into 'pot' is 'PLOT'.
'was' is the link.
(Other definitions for plot that I've seen before include "Ground - plan" , "Area of ground; storyline" , "Concoct schemes" , "The story told in a novel" , "Small piece of ground" .)