Alternate winter place with police chief missing (9)

I believe the answer is:

interlace

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'alternate winter place' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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