Blinking Red Light

When Lisbon's team are called in to assist the San Francisco police in a murder investigation, they quickly realise they're searching for the San Joaquin Killer, a serial murderer who's evaded the cops for some time. Lisbon's initial suspect, Richard Haibach, seems to fit the bill - he has no alibi and hides voyeuristic pictures around his house - but Jane believes they have the wrong man.

Looking for insights into the murderer, Jane talks to journalist and self-proclaimed 'SJK' specialist, James Panzer, and soon starts to become suspicious of him, particularly when he spouts on about how meticulous and brilliant he thinks the killer is. Once Jane sees Panzer's ordered bathroom cabinet, he becomes convinced the journalist is actually the serial killer and, when another dead body is found, he sets a trap.

Jane tells Panzer the police know who the killer is and that they'll be picking him up. That night, he and Lisbon follow the journalist to the murderer's kill site only to find Karen Cross's film crew interviewing Panzer. They've been set up. The team are then told that the FBI is taking over the case but Jane has one more try at exposing Panzer.

Panzer is appearing on the Karen Cross TV show and Jane is her surprise guest, to Panzer's astonishment. In the discussion, Panzer once more spouts on about how clever the SJK is and believes that he can't be caught. Jane slowly comes to a realisation - Panzer is right and he has to do something about it. Jane then makes a comparison between the San Joaquin Killer and Red John, leading Panzer to insult Jane's nemesis live on TV.

Later, Panzer is found dead with a bloody smiley face daubed on the wall above his body. He's been murdered by Red John - who is obviously still alive and well - but it was an execution engineered by Patrick Jane...