Azed 2116
The special instructions are such that each down clue contain a continuous anagram of a corresponding across clue, which must be removed before the clue can be solved. I'm fairly sure the anagram in this case is of 'meatsafe', hence:
20d. One of old accomplices a[s a team fê]te tailless gazelle (7)
becomes:
20d. One of old accomplices ate tailless gazelle (7)
The letters I have so far are:
F**AR*E
I'm stumped, and the only corresponding word that came up when I employed the somewhat dubious services of crosswordsolver was 'filaree', which is a 'European weed naturalized in southwestern United States and Mexico &c...'
Any suggestions welcome, thanks :-)