Fifteensquared

I found this a little harder than normal, 19 and 20 across in particular, the latter not fully understood. Solving time, 32 mins. A theme to it. I refer to this after the clue explanations.

* = anagram < = reversed

ACROSS

1 F L ITCH

4 MAR (A (middle letter of ‘craft’) CA (about)) S

9 IN (CA) N ac< = account (Bill)

10 EMERGENCY SERVICES (e.g. crime scenes, very)* Good anagram

12 PO L ICE (l op = work)< ice (diamonds)

13 AMBULANCE (cabman fuel)* less f

16 FIRE hidden reversal in thE RIFle

19 DRAW “Haul body of guards back” Pencilled ‘drag’ in first, then thought of ‘draw’

Chambers gives ward = body of guards so it’s ward<, I think

20 DEADLINES “Critical times – power to kill must be curtailed” Think the definition is ‘critical times’ but do not understand the rest. (Thanks, Max, for explaining this below)

22 LIKE LunacY

23 AP(POSIT)E Very tricky, with subtle definition ‘material’

26 ORANGEADE (grade A one)*

27 AMEN D D = delete (printing)

28 EOLITHS (Hostile)* Nicely misleading surface

29 PE(ST)ER

DOWN

1 FRIE S (L)A ND China (plate) = mate = friend l = lost (as in football league tables)

2 IN CUR

3 CANT I C(L)E

4 ME ET (extra terrestrial)

5 REGION (ogre in)*

6 CON (e)DITION

7 STYLE hidden

8 DE (MEAN) ED (name)*

14 BLACK BALL Double definition – good

15 EX AMPLE S

17 E AS T ENDER

18 ALLOC ATE (local)* (tea)* Amusing surface and nicely misleading – one of my last answers

21 F(L)IGHT

22 LOO SE(at)

24 IN E PT

25 DAI’S

Theme: across answers 10 to 16 suggested by the puzzle number (dial 999). Puzzle 1000 due next week!