The Hightower conundrum is solved by Tiger Tiger trying to kill her, not Red John.  At no point do I recall that we know that O'Laughlin was working for Red John. He may have been part of Tiger Tiger instead.  My biggest question now becomes how did Timothy Carter know to be in the food court.  He would have had to have Bertram's office bugged?

O'Laughlin belonging to Tiger Tiger and killing Todd Johnson makes more sense than Red John having him killed.  The police officers killed by Todd Johnson were being weeded out by Tiger Tiger.  Remember Todd Johnson said that "this is bigger than you could image," similar to what Reede Smith said to Kirkland.