Haffner's conversation with Cho in "Little Red Book" and his conversation with Lisbon at lunch in "The Red Barn" were to some extent indicative of Haffner's true nature.
In his conversation with Cho he first reminded him of Rigsby working downstairs as Security, somehow pointing out how Cho might end up the same way if he didn't cooperate with him. Then he started asking weird questions like : "You think Jane's smarter than me?". I remember at that point I was surprised even though no single soul back then had suspected Haffner to be Red John. Of course at the end Cho turned his back on him, but it's the manipulative manner in which Haffner was trying to lure Cho into spying on Jane that interests me the most.
In his conversation with Lisbon at lunch in front of the State House he acted even more artful than he did with Cho. Trying to persuade Lisbon to quit the CBI, constantly bombarding her with all the sad possibilities she might face in the future if she stayed at the CBI, especially Jane dropping out; and the happy ones if she joined him.
The peculiar thing is that he's ever acted even remotely like this in front of Jane. Actually he's done quite the opposite, he let Jane ridicule him.
Haffner is neither too far-fetched nor too obvious. He's a perfect choice.
