Crossword Genius

Use ultimately effective ruse to frame Mike (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

employ

'use' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'ultimately effective ruse to frame mike' is the wordplay.
'ultimately' suggests the final letters.
'ruse' becomes 'ploy' (both can mean a trick or scheme).
'to frame' indicates putting letters inside.
'mike' becomes 'M' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
The final letter of 'effective' is 'e'.
'e'+'ploy'='eploy'
'eploy' placed around 'm' is 'EMPLOY'.

(Other definitions for employ that I've seen before include "Keep (someone) occupied" , "Use or take on" , "Occupy" , "Take on - recruit" , "Give job to (someone)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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