What if the writers of The Mentalist are doing to us, their loyal, and a bit crazed viewers, the same thing that Patrick has done and now may be doing again, to Red John alias Wayne Rigsby.

What I mean is, Patrick faked a breakdown and was gone for 6 months. He waited until Red John made contact. Red John did that, but it could never have worked because Red John (alias Rigsby) was instantly a part of the "team" again, and again Red John was one step ahead.

Now Patrick has been gone 2 years. He has had no contact with Rigsby, except perhaps by word of what he may have put in letters to Lisbon. Her occasional dinner with Van Pelt and Wayne has given him a bit of information into his state of being.

Patrick played the so-called "Red John reveal" completely. He must have figured out from talking to Kirkland that Tiger Tiger was a group of corrupt cops. He worked out a plan to reveal all of this to the FBI, get the FBI to close down CBI and send everyone on their separate ways. Now, for the first time in 10 years, Red John has no idea what Patrick is doing. It's impossible for him to stay one step ahead.