No 14098, Thursday 15 Feb 2024, Afterdark

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Earl visits British bank that is next door (6) BESIDE{B}{E}{SIDE}

4   Indulge and include a politician in workout and reading (6) PAMPER {P{A}{MP}E}{R}

9   Cuba rebate stores vacant (4) BARE [T]

10 A knot about friendship and trouble (5,5) CLOVE HITCH {C}{LOVE}{HITCH}

11 Door confining setter in a cell (6) GAMETE {GA{ME}TE}

12 Two criminals held by iron restraint at the end by hawker, perhaps (8) FALCONER {F{AL}{CON}E}{Re...t}

13 So, well by a review we arrive at PV = k (6,3) BOYLES LAW*

15 Mock that man's shrimp starter (4) HISS {HIS}{Sh...p}

16 Fasten with difficulty (4) BIND [DD]

17 By the second half of the year, called a new girl for grading (9) ARRANGING {yeAR}{RANG}{1}{N}{G}

21 Say, bronchodilator in hospital at Alabama cannot be seen often (8) INHALANT {IN}{H}{AL}{cAnNoT}

22 Basset, setters hold a lot of value (6) ASSETS [T]

24 Rose's issue about men is related to recovery (10) REDEMPTORY {RED}{EMPT{OR}Y}

25 Bill is a killer primarily (4) BEAK {BE}{A}{Ki...r}

26 Street paved with cement, perhaps (6) SETTER*

27 Respect for soldiers saving first lady facing resistance (6) REVERE {R{EVE}{R}E}

DOWN

1   Supporter backed by a party gaining victory is bragging (7) BRAVADO {BRA}{A}{DO} over {V}

2   Location identified for the audience (5) SCENE (~seen)

3   Orders for duke at London district to meet revolutionary prophet (7) DECREES {D}{EC}{SEER<=}

5   Silver and gold girl traded with Earl is antique (3-3) AGE-OLD {AG}{(+e-g}EOLD}

6   Say, killing pig is not on; no time to be wicked (9) POISONING {PIG+IS+NOt+ON}*

7   Romeo slips missing second step in the front; bone disease, perhaps (7) RICKETS {R}{tICKETS}

8   Huge fire in company's new stores stocking sink (13) CONFLAGRATION {CO}{N}{FLAG}{RATION}

14 Lady is with a man, a broker perhaps (4,5) LAND AGENT {L}{AND}{A}{GENT}

16 Idiotic moneymen trade top assets for nothing (7) BONKERS B(-a+o)ONKERS

18 Inquire about new partner foregoing first love with shame, disheartened (7) A?A?Y?E ()

19 Fool's worth some salt (7) NITRATE {NIT}{RATE}

20 Mark, a lawyer takes on tech giant skimming at the top (6) DAPPLE {DA}{aPPLE}

23 Dark story in which father dies, son takes over (5) SABLE {-f+s)SABLE

Reference List

Earl = E, British = B, Workout = PE, Reading = R, About = C, Criminals = AL, CON, New = N, Girl = G, Hospital = H, Men = OR, Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Resistance = R, Supporter = BRA, Party = DO, Victory = V, Duke = D, London district = EC, Time = T, Romeo = R, Lady = L, Lawyer = DA, Father = F, Son = S