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7A Where one can get to on the river (5) _ E _ _ _

10A It's elegant apparently to be made to pay again by the court (7)

_ _ _ I _ _ _

5D As an author it's the plot that he's concerned with (7)

_ _ _ _ _ E _

8D Surviving trace not in at 14 (7) _ _ _ T _ G _

(the answer to 14A is INVESTIGATE

7a: reach
10a: refined

8d vestige

8 (in)VESTIG(at)E

8d: vestige

5d gard(e)ner

Many thanks to Elle, Stevie Gee, and Chrise.

But sadly GARDNER doesn't fit in for 5D. With the C of Reach, the
second E of Refined, the pattern is now _ C _ E _ E _

So it looks like Schemer?

Yes, schemer (the author who creates the scheme / plot)

Thanks for the confirmation, Jazzgirl.