So here's one for you Brett Partridge fans - have you considered BP is working WITH Patrick Jane to draw Red John out?
RED JOHN, "If there's one thing I can't tolerate, it's cheap imitations of my work."
Partridge and his buddy fake his death. That would explain why the smiley was done differently on Lisbon's face. So RJ would get mad. Then partridge could help Jane stage the deaths of everyone on the list. Lisbon is a terrible liar so she can't be in on it. Cho probably knows the plan. He's the only one who can keep a secret.
Since Haffner showed up at the hospital the next day, it seems like he's RJ, but he wasn't around in the beginning. So I'd rather it be Michael Kirkland.