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Spy, possibly shirtless, faces international 'scandal' (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

investigate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'spy' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'shirtless faces international scandal' is the wordplay.
'shirtless faces' becomes 'invest' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'international' becomes 'i' (abbreviation eg in IMF).
'scandal' becomes 'gate' (as in Watergate and other formations).
'invest'+'i'+'gate'='INVESTIGATE'

'possibly' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for investigate that I've seen before include "Look into" , "check out" , "Search" , "Examine" , "Enquire into" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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