Edward Townsend

Agent Edward Townsend is an MI6 agent and ally of Cameron Morgan. As a teenager, he went to a high-end boarding school on scholarship and joined MI6 right out of college. Before taking up a temporary faculty position at the Gallagher Academy to gain intel on Joseph Solomon, he had been stationed in countries such as Buenos Aires, Mozambique, and Romania. During this time he met, tried to kill, and had a brief fling with the assassin Catherine Goode. This resulted in Catherine giving birth to a son, Zachary Goode, but did not reveal this to Townsend until 18 years later. He first met Cammie in an MI6 interrogation room in London where he questioned her about her conversation with Solomon on the London Bridge. When she later returned to the Gallagher Academy, Townsend was waiting for her and her roommates in their suite. He was immediately attacked by Rebecca Baxter, Elizabeth Sutton and Macey McHenry before Cammie intervened. Later that evening, Patricia Buckingham introduces him as the new instructor of Covert Operations.

Physical Appearance and Personality

Agent Townsend is tall, has black wavy hair and deep blue eyes. He is described as cocky. He was first seen by Cammie as very hot, although once she got to know his personality that changed. He's left handed and shoots with his right hand. He favours his left knee. He is a genius, though he thinks that he is a wise guy. Not fun to be around. He follows a strict schedule. However he does let Joe Solomon go, saying that he was killed in the explosion so Solomon can lead a new life. Cammie says in OSOT that he reminds her of Zach Goode, although a much older and more experienced version.

Relationships

Abigail Cameron

Townsend’s main love interest throughout the series is Abigail Cameron. It is unknown when and how they first met, but Abby hints at a history in Only the Good Spy Young. In Out of Sight, Out of Time, Abby has taken over Townsend's position as the CoveOps teacher, and has a few snarky remarks on his teaching style. Later, Townsend is recruited to Cammie's security detail on their trip to Rome. Throughout the mission they regularly bicker and banter, arguing over security measures and protocols - Abby stands her ground and gladly reminds Townsend that it was her methods that saved his life three years prior.

When the team find themselves at the American embassy where the Winters family are staying, Cammie initially introduces Townsend as Abby's boyfriend, a cover story neither of them are very pleased with. However, when staking out a bank that Cammie had allegedly visited during the summer, Cammie notices Townsend looking at Abby differently. When the group discover where Matthew Morgan is buried, Abby and Cammie both start to claw at the ground until Townsend and Zach pull them back. Townsend pulls Abby away and holds her, speaking gently. Back at the school, he takes her hand, holding it tightly, and offers to accompany her to break the news to Rachel. She insists she'll do it herself, then they part ways.

Later, the team make their way to Ireland, where Townsend meets up with them before heading to to the small island that housed Gillian Gallagher's ancestral home. Him and Abby greet each other flatly, not acknowledging their last encounter. When discussing strategy, Abby expects Townsend to disagree with her but he doesn't, hinting at a truce between the two.

At the start of United We Spy, it's revealed that Townsend and Abby have paired up in tracking down the members of the Circle. They travel to Rome, where they take Samuel Winters and Preston Winters into custody. Townsend and Abby deliver the girls back to the Academy where they then part ways, Townsend giving her a soft kiss goodbye. Sometime after this, Abby leaves the academy and meets up with Townsend to continue their mission, now focusing on catching Catherine Goode. Townsend and Abby follow Catherine to an old house on a small island and find Cammie and her team are there. When Catherine reveals that Zach is Townsend's son, Abby does not initially take the news well, yelling at Townsend and slamming a door. When the group decide to return to the Gallagher Academy, Catherine is locked in the trunk and Abby insists they split up boys/girls, with the boys taking the car that held Catherine.

The bonus epilogue for UWS that was released in 2023 is set 10 years after the final book. In the epilogue, Townsend and Abby are happily married with three-year-old twins - a girl named Morgan and a boy named Matthew, who were both going through a naked-and-biting phase. Abby blames Townsend's formality for the kids' raucousness.

Zachary Goode

Towards the end of United We Spy, the team are taking refuge at Zach's childhood home after they fail to save the King of Caspia and Catherine arrives as a 'walk-in'. After being knocked out and tied up, she is given truth serum and questioned. Townsend and Abby then arrive, having been following her. Catherine is gradually losing consciousness, and reveals to everyone that Townsend is Zach's father. The immediate aftermath is not known, but Zach retreats to the beach to process the news. Cammie tries to comfort him, but he harbours resentment towards Townsend for not knowing about him and taking him away from Catherine. Later, the group has to split up to return to the Gallagher Academy and Abby decides Townsend and Zach will go together - it is unknown if they sorted anything out on the drive, but Cammie notices an awkward tension between the two when they arrive.

The book ends six months after the girls' graduation, with Zach and Cammie reporting to Townsend for a mission for the CIA.

During the summer following the explosion, Townsend and Zach are both groomsmen for Joe at his wedding to Rachel.

Catherine Goode

Townsend met Catherine about 16 years before the events of the first book. It can be assumed that she was a target on one of his missions, as he admits to Zach that he had tried to kill her before. Despite this, he had a brief fling with her and this resulted in Catherine becoming pregnant with Zach.

At the end of United We Spy, Townsend and Zach escort Catherine back to the Gallagher Academy, where she is detained in a cell in Sublevel Two. This is supposedly the last interaction between her and Townsend, as she is later killed in the explosion that destroys the Academy.

Trivia

• Ally Carter has noted that she prefers Abby/Townsend over Abby/Joe.
• He and Abby did a mission in Buenos Aires where she saved his life. 
• Ally mentioned in a live chat that Tabby (Abby/Townsend) are all love when no one's looking.