Cover for leading characters in Crime and Punishment (3)
I believe the answer is:
cap
'cover for leading' is the definition.
'cap' can be an answer for 'cover' (capping is a kind of covering). I'm not certain of the 'for leading' bit.
'characters in crime and punishment' is the wordplay.
'characters in' says to take the centre (the letters inside the word).
'crime' becomes 'scam' (scam is a kind of crime).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'punishment' becomes 'p' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
The middle letters of 'scam' are 'ca'.
'ca'+'p'='CAP'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cap that I've seen before include "Put a limit on" , "Upper limit; hat" , "Flat brimless hat" , "contribution to hunt funds?" , "'If the . . . fits, wear it' (3" .)