As The Mentalist works on wrapping up the Red John case, series creator Bruno Heller is already laying down tracks for the drama's new plotline.

If you thought it was odd that several of the current Red John suspects - notably Gale Bertram (Michael Gaston), Sheriff McAllister (Xander Berkeley), and Reede Smith (Drew Powell) - got along so amiably during "Black-Winged Redbird," you'll be interested to know that it may not have anything to do with their possible connection to the serial killer.

'The Mentalist': Patrick Jane Uncovers Motive for Red John Actions

"The CBI goes through its own sort of institutional crisis," Heller said, according to TV Guide. "The walls are crumbling around them as they are trying to solve this big final mystery. Bertram is both a prime suspect as Red John, but also deeply involved in that other plot."

It appears that this story will flow into the second half of the season since TV Guide claims that the series new FBI characters, Nick Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) and Kim Fischer (Emily Swallow), will have a role to play in this story.

However, Heller is reluctant to give too much away about The Mentalist post-Red John.

'The Mentalist': Seven More Red John Suspects? Patrick Jane Puts Lives in Danger During "Red Listed"

As soon as you shoot an arrow in the air it's going to land somewhere, and I don't want to shoot that arrow quite yet," Heller said, according to TV Line. "I would say that one of the luxuries if we do indeed catch and get rid of Red John... is that it's a huge weight and burden off the shoulders of Jane and Lisbon and everybody else, so it's a good life change, it gives them freedom and a sense of being able to breathe again. So while there will be gripping arcs of the kind that the audience is used to, we're going to take this opportunity to open it up a bit."

The Mentalist airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. Check out the teaser for next week's episode, "Wedding in Red."

Tags: The Mentalist CBS television